Douglas Rasmussen

De Forest/Madison

Douglas Rasmussen, age 79, passed away peacefully at his home in De Forest, Wisconsin on Saturday, November 14, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. Doug was born on December 12, 1935 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Alvin E. and Ramona (Lobdell) Rasmussen.

Doug grew up in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where during his youth he enjoyed working as a ball boy at Carroll College for the pro-football Chicago Cardinals, when they trained in Waukesha in 1947 and 1948. During his high school years at Waukesha High School, he was part of the Blackshirts championship basketball team, and after graduating from Waukesha High in 1954, he attended and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1958. He was a member of the U.W. golf team, which won the '1957 Big Ten Men's Championship'. During and after his U.W. years, Doug had a love for and commitment to the Sigma Chi Fraternity; he enjoyed lifelong friendships with his treasured fraternity brothers.

Douglas entered the U.S. Air Force in July 1958, and served as a First Lieutenant until June 1961, and then transferred to the U.S. Air Force Reserves. He worked as a sales rep for the G.O. Carlson Steel Co. from 1961-1963. Doug became a partner with Sweeney Realty from September 1963 until August 1971, when First Realty Group was formed. Doug continued his career with First Realty Group as an owner-broker until the merger with Weber Realty to form First Weber Group. He retired from First Weber Group in 2000.

Doug was a member of Nakoma Golf Club since 1964, serving as President of Nakoma in 1983. He was a Director of the Western Golf Association from 1988-2010; and was a Director of Wisconsin State Golf Association from 1986 through present.

Doug is survived by his wife of 24 years, Nancy Tidwell-Rasmussen, and Nancy L. Rasmussen, mother of his two children; son Thomas D. Rasmussen and daughter, Lori A. Stricker; also children Robert D. (Patricia) Tidwell, and Danelle E. Tidwell; nine grandchildren, Keslie Stricker, Kristin Stricker, Taryn Stricker, Kendra (Ben) Wasby, Nicole Rasmussen, Morgan Tidwell, Derek Tidwell, Alisha Beeman and Aaron Beeman; two great-grandchildren, Isla and Gracie Wasby; and brother Robert J. (Honeygirl) Rasmussen. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24, 2015, with a Special Time of Remembrance at 3:30 p.m. at the Cress Center Funeral Home at 6021 University Ave., Madison, WI.

Memorials may be directed to the Evans Scholars Foundation, One Briar Rd., Golf, IL 60029 or Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 E. Cheryl Pkwy, Fitchburg, WI 53711. The family wishes to express their deep appreciation to the entire staff of Agrace HospiceCare for their loving and compassionate care. Please share a memory.

A man's reputation is only what men think him to be; his character is what God knows him to be.


Cress Center
6021 University Ave.
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 238-8406