Obituary of Joseph G. Rasmusson
Joseph Gabriel Rasmusson, 63, passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on January 2, 2021.
Born in Montclair, NJ, to parents Donald and Patricia (Kinkead) Rasmusson, Joe enjoyed a happy childhood with his four siblings, attending local Catholic schools which, along with his parents, instilled in him a lifelong love of his Catholic faith. During high school at Saint Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City, he and his enterprising brothers started a successful landscaping company. Joe later graduated from Drew University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He met his beloved Dominique (née Conklin) in a young adult’s Catholic group and they married on September 22, 1985.
Joe and Dominique settled in Mendham in 1991, where they raised their five children. He worked as a Commercial Real Estate Broker for Gale and Wentworth in Florham Park, NJ, as well as Cushman & Wakefield and the Alexander Summer Company. Always well-respected and loved by his colleagues, he was a member of BOMA (Building Office Management Association) and various Catholic organizations.
Joe loved playing sports, was an avid Yankee fan, history buff, lover of politics and a devoted family man whose proudest accomplishment was his family. Diagnosed with MS in 1999, he spent the next twenty one years fighting his illness. Joe’s positive attitude and acceptance of his disease and the great suffering it caused was not only inspirational to his family, but to friends and people he had never even met. Through his devout faith, he dealt with his illness with grace and strength and without complaint, and used his suffering as a sacrifice for the good of others. He regarded his challenges as a gift because of the time it allowed him to spend with his children. Although bedridden for years, he did so much to impact and change the lives of many people. Until the end of his life, Joe retained his brilliant mind and sharp sense of humor and his beautiful quality of unselfishness, which always made him more concerned about others than himself. He will be missed dearly by all of us.
Joseph is predeceased by his mother, Patricia Rasmusson, and is survived by his beloved wife of 35 years, Dominique Rasmusson, children Nicole (Austin) Rice of Bernardsville, NJ, Matthew Rasmusson of Morristown, NJ, Amy, Colin, and Patrick Rasmusson of Mendham, NJ, father Donald Rasmusson Sr. of Montclair, NJ, brothers Donald (Darlene) Rasmusson of Morris Plains, NJ, Peter (Bernadette) Rasmusson of Caldwell, NJ, sisters Mary Patricia Kelly of East Hanover, NJ, Mary Therese (Brian) Baird of Cedar Grove, NJ, and grandchildren Gemma and Noah Rice.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, January 7, at 11 AM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 910 Birch St, Boonton, NJ 07005, followed by burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joseph’s memory may be made to Little Sisters of the Poor, via littlesistersofthepoortotowa.org or by mail at St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly 140 Shepherd Lane Totowa, NJ 07512 with checks made payable to St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly.
