Robert (Bob) George Rasmussen passed away peacefully at the age of 85. Bob was born May 12, 1928 in Los Angeles CA. He graduated from Glendale’s Hoover high school in 1946. He then attended Occidental on a track scholarship where he earned a degree in psychology. After graduating from Oxy, Bob served in the military spending time in Korea and Japan.
Following his military service he went to The University of Chicago where he received an MBA. While in Chicago he met the love of his life, Margaret. They were married in Waterloo, Iowa on May 22, 1955. As fate would have it they both shared May 12th as their birthday.
Moving back to California Bob worked for Union Oil, Douglas Aircraft, and Bunker Ramo doing financial planning.
In 1965 Bob’s father asked him to move to Solvang to help him run his growing business Rasmussen’s Gifts where he worked for 35 years. Bob immediately became involved in the community. He was member of the Danish Brotherhood, the Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Club, Vikings, The Solvang Business Association, Bethania Lutheran Church, and The Solvang Lutheran Home board.
Bob loved tending his garden, traveling in their motor home and spending time at the beach house, which he shared with friends for 20 years.
Bob is survived by his wife Margaret and sons David (Janet), Andy, Eric (Roya), Stephen (Cinde) and grandchildren Nicole (Brent), Allan, Lauren, Cameron, and Ella.
One of Bob’s lifelong goals was to climb Mt Whitney which he did at age 65 with two of his sons and a daughter-in-law by his side. He did it one step at a time.
Memorial services will be held at Bethania Lutheran Church in Solvang on Monday January 20th at 11:00 am.
Donations can be made to Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care or the Atterdag Village of Solvang.
Loper Funeral Chapel, Directors.
