Vernon B. Rasmussen died peacefully with family members by his side on March 20, 2009 at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue, Wash.

‘Ras’ was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on June 11, 1920, the son of Albert and Edna Rasmussen, where he attended school and later served in the United States Army, attaining the rank of first lieutenant.

His last station was in Japan, where he served as a Small Arms Instructor, teaching officers the use of small arms.

Mr. Rasmussen met his bride while on duty in Japan, and he and ‘Alice’ Fusako Muraoka later married in San Francisco, Calif., in 1949, where they resided briefly before moving to the great Northwest.

Mr. Rasmussen was a Mercer Island resident for more than 50 years and is survived by his wife, Alice, of 60 years; daughter, Linda (Nick), of Everett, Wash.; son, Allard (Beverly), of Littleton, Colo.; and son, Michael (Aelita), of Bellevue, Wash. Relatives include four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Mr. Rasmussen was involved in commercial real estate and land development for most of his adult life, and during his spare time, you could find him enjoying hiking, salmon fishing, big game and waterfowl hunting.

He also had quite a passion for trap, five-stand and sporting clays shooting, where you would find him honing his shotgun skills and routinely shooting a ‘20’ at the Washington Gamebird Club on Wednesdays in Kenmore.

He was also very active in the Bellevue Sister City Association, where he and Alice participated on the governing board and traveled often to many different countries.

Mr. Rasmussen always had a joke to tell and was always ready to help his fellow man in their time of need. Friends will remember him as being a generous, goodhearted and kind soul. He was from an era when a handshake or his word was a bond, and his friendship was everlasting.

Friends are invited to view and sign his memorial guestbook on the Internet at www.mem.com.

Services have been held.