This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Gopen, Sides, Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8224 Message Board Post: William Chris Rasmussen William “Bill” Chris Rasmussen, also known affectionately as “Ras,” passed away in Bakersfield on June 2, 2005 at the age of 86 from complications after a long battle with emphysema. He was born March 22, 1919 in Watsonville, California to Chris and Irene Rasmussen and was an only child. He resided the last four years in Bakersfield, in Watsonville for 43 years from 1919 to1948, returning to Watsonville in retirement from 1987 to 2001. He served on the planning commission and as city councilman and mayor in California City, while he lived in California City from 1969 to 1987. During his early years he worked for his father at the Century Garage in Watsonville and played drums with bands in the region. After the war he worked for the phone company and Lenkurt Electric in the S.F. Bay Area, later he was employed as a technical writer and manager of technical publications in the Aerospace industry for Aeronutronics in Newport Beach and worked on missiles and rockets. He retired from Continental Phone Company in Victorville. His education included graduation from Watsonville High School, Hartnell Jr. College in Salinas, and received his electrical engineering degree from the U.S. Navy. Bill was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served during WWII in the South Pacific as a radar specialist. He was a 30-year member of B.P.O.E. and the “65 Club” Watsonville Lodge #1300, California State Fireman’s Association, California City Community Club, Little League and Boy Scouts of America. He is survived by his wife, Helen Rasmussen, children Karen (Howard) Gopen, Wendy (Mike) Sides, Kenneth (Kim) Rasmussen and 6 grandchildren. He was predeceased by a grandson and parents, Chris and Irene Rasmussen. Services will be held in Watsonville, Pajaro Public Cemetery on August 6, 2005. The family requests donations be made to the Watsonville Band or American Lung Association. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News, California City, Kern, CA Published: 09 Jun 2005