Densel Raymond Rasmussen

Densel "Denny" Rasmussen, 84, of Bourbonnais, passed away Saturday (March 19, 2016) at Miller Health Care Center in Kankakee, after a long battle with cancer. Cremation rites have been accorded. Memorial visitation will be from 10 a.m. Wednesday until the 11 a.m. funeral Mass at St. George Catholic Church in St. George. Military honors will be performed. Memorials may be made to Kankakee Valley Hospice or St. Joseph's Grade School of Bradley. Denny was born June 9, 1931, in Kankakee, the son of Raymond and Delma (nee Lamie) Rasmussen. He graduated from Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School in 1949 and attended Western Illinois University before enlisting with the U.S. Navy to fight in the Korean War. While with the Navy, he circumnavigated the world on the U.S.S. Tarawa and U.S.S. Leyte aircraft carriers. After returning to the United States, he played baseball with the Baltimore Orioles minor league team in Jacksonville, Fla. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Denny played basketball, football and baseball at BBCHS and in semi-pro leagues throughout his life. He also loved walking at Perry Farm, fishing and enjoying the outdoors. In 1956, he married his sweetheart and the girl next door, Beverly Jean Brosseau. She survives. Also surviving are five children; 13 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren (and twins on the way). Those survivors include his daughter and partner, Dana Singleton and Phillip McDaniel, of LaGrange, Ga., daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Jim Durben, of Cambridge, Ohio, son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Roxanne Rasmussen, of Bourbonnais, daughter and son-in-law, Jodi and Christopher Schroll, of Madison, Wis., and son and daughter-in-law, Darin and Tara Rasmussen, of Rosemount, Minn.; the 13 grandchildren include Jeff Campbell, Keri (Jarrod) Carter, Rachel Singleton, Bill Singleton, Britton (Stephanie) McElwee, Ian McElwee, Jill (Jeff) Whiteman, Erin (Adam) Rasmussen-Minster, Grant Schroll, Wesley Schroll, and Gavin, Gillian and Paige Rasmussen.; and the six great-grandchildren include Madison, Adalyn, Hazel, Otis, Emma and Sophia. He was preceded in death by his parents. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Kankakee Valley (www.hkvcares.org) or St. Joseph Grade School in Bradley (stjosephschoolbradley.org).

Densel Raymond Rasmussen

June 9, 1931 - March 19, 2016