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Daniel Rasmussen
DANIEL RASMUSSEN
Cedar Rapids
Daniel Hans Rasmussen, 31, of Dakota City, Iowa, died peacefully Friday, Aug. 29, 2014, surrounded by family after a heroic struggle with leukemia at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.
Dan was born Dec. 5 1982, in Des Moines, son of Robert and Mary (Krieg) Rasmussen. He graduated from Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids and Iowa State University in Ames.
Dan led a varied and adventurous life. He studied for a year in Dortmund, Germany. He lived in Portland, Ore., crashing with friends he met on his trips to coffee shops, art exhibits and libraries. In Dakota City, Iowa, he met the love of his life and fiancee, Kerry Rizzuti, and soon after meeting, they explored America on a month-long bus trip.
He walked, biked or unicycled most everywhere. Dan was known to show up at a friend's house, ask to cook dinner, then produce a mass of ingredients from his backpack. One of his favorite foods was sourdough toast with avocado, fried egg and hot sauce. He considered spicy foods both a pleasure and a test of wills. His appetite was titanic and his preferences boundless. He ate beyond what many friends and family thought physically possible.
Dan was never in a rush. He had a passion for reading, reflection and conversation, and was just as comfortable in prolonged discussion with future friends as he was making French press coffee to sip outdoors observing nature. He was humbly dedicated to environmental stewardship, and personally worked to limit waste and promote recycling and sustainability. Dan also was very much into computers and website design. His personal website, www.danrasmussen.org, highlights his many interests and includes some recent writings regarding his struggle.
Dan is survived by his parents; his brothers, Stephen and Andrew; grandfather, Bill Krieg of Des Moines; his fiancee, Kerry Rizzuti, and her daughter, Amber Fischer, of Dakota City; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends from around the world.
A celebration of Dan's life will be Saturday, Sept. 20, at Noelridge Creekside Pavilion next to Harding Middle School beginning at 3 p.m. Please bring stories or memories to share.
In Dan's honor, his family requests you consider donating blood or platelets and to give your family extra big hugs.
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