Michael “Mike” Roger Rasmussen, age 78, of Exira, IA, passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 peacefully at home due to complications from a four-year battle from myelodysplastic syndrome.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, May 12, 2025 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Exira with Father David Nkrumah as Celebrant. Lectors will be Zoey Rasmussen and Audrey Strohmeyer. Music will be by Betty Wiemann and Matt Strohmeyer. Eucharist Minister will be Abby Rasmussen. Mass Servers will be Skyla Rasmussen, Harper Rasmussen and Oliver Strohmeyer. Gift bearers will be Calvin Rasmussen and Greyson Spruell. Casket bearers will be Matt Rasmussen, Joe Rasmussen, Matt Strohmeyer, Bruce Boehm, Justin Spruell, Lucas Strohmeyer, and Austin Rasmussen. Honorary casket bearers will be Dave Paulsen, Vernie Venteicher, Randy Jespersen, Russell Crawford, Craig Sorensen, and Ahman Douglass. Burial will be in the Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery with Military Honors by the Iowa Army National Guard and the Exira American Legion. A visitation will be held from 3:00 to 6:00 P.M. on Sunday, May 11, 2025 at the Exira Event Center in Exira. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com
Mike was born on July 7, 1946 in Exira, IA, to Chester Cole and Clara Kathryn Thielen Rasmussen. He was the second youngest of twelve children. Mike attended country school and later graduated from Exira Community High School in 1964. He went on to graduate from Iowa State University in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science. Upon graduating from Iowa State University, he was drafted into the United States Army. He fought in Vietnam, earned a purple heart and was awarded various other commendations.
On December 14, 1973, he was united in married to Arlene Kay McAllister in Melcher-Dallas, IA. They were blessed with 5 children: Jill, Matt, Toni, Joe and Trisha. In 1975, they bought a farm northeast of Exira where they raised their family. Mike farmed and held various sales jobs, including Harvestore, NFO, Aud-Ex Feed, Country Feed & Seed, and lastly, with FarmChem where he retired from in 2012.
Mike was an avid supporter of the Iowa State Cyclones, the Democratic Party, the Catholic Church and the Exira Community School District, serving roles on the school board and E-Club. He was a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Church in Exira. He was extremely proud of his family, attending nearly all the activities of his children, and then later, his grandchildren.
Mike never met a stranger and genuinely enjoyed hearing about others. Whether it was at breakfast at the Country Kitchen or Red Barn; coffee at the Iron Shop; drinks at Sherms, Toys, Bar Circle H, JR’s Lounge, Big T’s, Barn Burner, Jerry’s, Cliff’s, Vic’s, Lugger’s or TJ’s Pourhouse; or at a tailgate, ballgame, sale barn, land auction or at the stop sign; he was never afraid to strike up a conversation with those around him. Mike also spent countless hours driving to check on the crops and his farmland in Audubon County, Southern Iowa and Missouri.
Mike is survived by his wife, Kay of Exira; his children: Jill (Matt) Strohmeyer of Saint Louis, MO, Matt Rasmussen of Denison, Toni Spruell of Fort Collins, CO, Joe (Abby) Rasmussen of Exira and Trisha (Bruce) Boehm of Carroll; his grandchildren: Lucas Strohmeyer, Audrey Strohmeyer, Sylvia Strohmeyer, Oliver Strohmeyer, Greyson Spruell, Fletcher Spruell, Austin Rasmussen, Zoey Rasmussen, Skyla Rasmussen, Harper Rasmussen, Weston Rasmussen, Calvin Rasmussen, Mabel Boehm and Henry Boehm; his siblings: Pat Rice of West Des Moines, Marti Kafer of Concord, CA, Charlie (Jo) Rasmussen of Mission Viejo, CA, Katie Graff of The Woodlands, TX, Gary (Carol Lea) Rasmussen of Exira, Frank (Dorothy) Rasmussen of Tempe, AZ, and Sheila (Roger) Richards of Dallas, TX; his in-laws: Perry (Barb) Paulsen of Exira, Roberta (Jim) Ryan of Polk City and Dean (Diane) McAllister of Fairfield Bay, AR; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Chet and Clara Rasmussen; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harry and Eleanor McAllister; his siblings and in-laws: Leo and Pat Rasmussen, Dick and Sally Rasmussen, Toni and John Krieger, John and Judy Rasmussen, Austin Rice, Keith Kafer, Linda Paulsen and Trevor McAllister.
