Laurie Kaye Landis Rasmussen

She was born January 18, 1954 in Manistique, Mich. to Bernard R. and Jessie J. (Weigant) Landis and spent the first twenty years of her life in Cooks, MI. She loved her small town life.

Laurie attended Cooks School grades K-7, and Big Bay de Noc grades 8-12, and excelled in academics. She graduated co-valedictorian in May 1972.

Following high school, she attended NMU for one year, decided to get married, and married the love of her life, Douglas Craig Rasmussen on May 25, 1974. Her mother and both of Doug’s parents were in the same graduating class of 1949, so it was no surprise that Doug and Laurie found each other.

In 1987, Doug and Laurie were blessed with their first child, Lance Douglas, and in 1991 their daughter Heidi Kaye. They were worth waiting for!

Doug and Laurie both got involved in Cub Scouts with Lance. Laurie eventually became Committee Chair and Doug, Cub Master. They participated in many scouting events. When Lance moved up to Boy Scouts, so did his parents, as Laurie became Merit Badge advisor for several Merit Badges.

When Heidi was 5, Laurie became Girl Scout Leader for her troop and continued from Kindergarten through Heidi’s Senior year.

Starting in 1998, Laurie and her family became involved in American Civil War living history and traveled throughout Wisconsin, Lower Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, recreating life during the 1860s. The highlights were the national events where there were thousands of other reenactors. This became a huge passion. She participated in reenacting until her health started to decline. This was a huge blow to her.

She participated in the U.P. State Fair exhibiting many items including baking, preserves, sewing, antiques, agriculture, crafts, and her favorite – floral, which earned many Grand Champions. Over many years, she earned over 200 ribbons.

Laurie was a member of NMU Concert Choir, Bay de Noc Choral Society, and had the honor of singing with a U.P. wide chorus in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, performing the choral finale of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.

> Laurie started skiing in 1972 with encouragement from Doug. She went on to love the sport and instructed at Gladstone Sports Park, Marquette Mountain, and Briar (Norway) Mountain.

Laurie was an attendant and member of Cooks Congregational Church where she was a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher and loved to sing, especially the old hymns!

She also served as pianist. She was proud of her eight years of perfect attendance in Sunday School.

Laurie was a member of Rapid River Congregational Church for over 35 years. She was a member and leader in 4H photography, textile printing, sewing, and crocheting. While in 4H, she participated in the March of Dimes telethon on TV6.

She had a job as a typesetter for the Pioneer Tribune in Manistique and was proud that she was able to type 100 words per minute with no errors. She next became a home demonstrator for Copper Craft.

She returned to college at Bay de Noc Community College to pursue a degree in education. She transferred to and graduated from NMU in December 1978 with a degree in Creative Arts/Elementary Education. She was eventually hired by Gladstone Schools as a long-term substitute in the Fall of 1979 and hired full-time in the Fall of 1980. She earned her Masters Degree in Elementary Education in 1983. She taught in Gladstone for over 36 years, teaching Kindergarten Readiness, Kindergarten, First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth Grades. Laurie loved her years at Gladstone teaching at Flat Rock (her favorite!), W.C. Cameron, and James T. Jones Schools. She organized Native American Awareness Day while teaching at Cameron, served on the Code Alert Team at Flat Rock and Cameron, and organized many American Civil War living history days while teaching Fifth Grade.

Laurie was awarded the VFW Social Studies Award for the State of Michigan in 2005.

Laurie retired from teaching in June 2015. She loved teaching, but it became more difficult to meet the physical demands of the position. She then spent a lot of quiet time at home being a housewife.

Her health gradually declined and she was diagnosed with cancer in January 2021. She fought bravely against the cancer, but eventually succumbed.

She is survived by her husband of 49 years Douglas Rasmussen of Gladstone, son Lance (Sara Van Damme) of Bethel, Maine, daughter Heidi (Andy) Bunch and granddaughter Eleanor of Marinette, Wisconsin, brother Bryan (Sherry) Landis of Cooks, close friend Barb Landis of Manistique, aunts Geraldine Bertrand and Jeanine Zellner of Manistique, mother-in-Law Patricia (Seaman) Rasmussen of Garden, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Lael (Charlie) Thelander of Garden, Roxanne (Russ) Paquette of Rapid River, Corine (Dennis) Cummings of Escanaba, Jon (Lise) Rasmussen of Chesterfield, Missouri, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Allen, and father-in-law Charles Rasmussen.

Please make any memorial gifts to Salvation Army, Rapid River Congregational Church, or the American Cancer Society.

Thank you for all of the support from friends and family. Thanks to the Bellin cancer team, especially Dr. Mansurov and Susan Greenwood.

If we have left anyone out, please forgive us. It is not intentional.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 1 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Rapid River Congregational Church. Funeral services will be at 12:00 PM with Pastor Bill Rafuse officiating. Graveside services will follow in the Fernwood Cemetery in Gladstone. A luncheon will be served in the church fellowship hall.

The Rasmussen family is being assisted by the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone.

For additional information or to leave the family a message of condolence, go to www.Skradski funeral homes.com.