Fansion Rose Ford Rasmussen Juenemann

Fansion Rose Ford was born on 02/11/1923 in Kanona, KS to Claude and Grace Ford, the second of 5 children. Robert (Bob), Fansion, Roy (Bud), Claude Jr. (CJ), and Dolores (Dee). They were raised on the plains of eastern Colorado, enduring the dust bowl days and living in a sod house. She graduated from Genoa High School in 1940.

After working in the Denver area, she joined the Navy on 02/16/1943 during WW II. She participated in the Marine Choir, and was top graduate Aviation Machinists Mate. She was assigned to the US Naval Station in Alameda, California upon graduation. On her very first leave, she met Carl B. Rasmussen at a USO Hospitality House dance in Oakland on 11/15/1943. Carl had been overseas twice, once to North Africa and later to the South Pacific. He was a radioman/belly gunner on a TBM Avenger torpedo plane, due to leave for the South Pacific for the second time. They fell madly in love and decided to get married on 12/13/1943. Theirs was the first all-Navy wedding on the base (no civilians). Carl was shipped out 02/1944 and didn't come back to the States until just before their first wedding anniversary.

Fansion was discharged 07/29/1944, taking advantage of the allowance to leave early so husband and wife wouldn't be stationed at different sites. She continued to work at the same job (airplane mechanic) as a civilian until Carl returned from overseas.

They had a wonderful life together with five children. Neither ever regretted their short courtship. They first lived in Connecticut near Carl's family, where Cheryl was born, then moved to Denver where Fansion's parents lived. While Carl attended Denver University, the whole family lived in half a Quonset hut, the other half shared with another family, until he graduated. Christine and Eric were born during that time. After graduating, they moved to El Centro, California and on to Ontario, Oregon, where Dixie was born, then to Sheridan, Wyoming, where their family was completed with Diane.

Fansion worked as a receptionist for Dr. Rhodes while in Sheridan, and participated in Mother Singers. The family moved back to the Denver area in 1963, where Fansion worked for Adams County School District 50 as a secretary. Carl and Fansion moved back to Sheridan in the 1970’s, where she worked as a secretary for the Northern Wyoming Mental Health Center. During this time, Carl bought one of her heart's desires…an appaloosa mare named Nightmare that had several beautiful foals for them. After 41 years of marriage, Carl passed away on 03/22/1985.

Fansion remained in Sheridan until she married August (Gus) Juenemann 06/24/1989, and moved to Selden, Kansas. She gained six grown children when she married Gus: Margaret (Margie), Jim, John (Jack), Roy (Shorty), Mary, and Jerry. They enjoyed a shared passion for woodworking and enjoying all the many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren on both sides. Gus passed away 06/1995, just 3 days before their sixth wedding anniversary.

Later, Fansion moved to Springfield, CO to be near her daughter, Cheryl, and her family, who enjoyed having her there as well as assisting her as needed. Fansion moved to the Denver area in 2011, where she lived with Christine until Fansion suffered a stroke in 2014. She moved to Good Samaritan Society nursing home in Simla, CO. This home was near Diane's house, and both Christine and Diane took care of her until she passed.

Fansion is survived by Cheryl (Clarence) Bulkley of Springfield, CO; Christine Rasmussen of Highlands Ranch, CO; Dixie (Floyd) Bulkley of Douglas, WY; Diane Rasmussen of Simla, CO; Nancy Rasmussen of Belize; Margie Miller of Wichita, KS; Roy (Connie) Juenemann of Wichita, KS; Jerry (Dalene) Juenemann of Olathe, KS; Mickey Juenemann of Longmont, CO; Eileen Juenemann of Hays, KS; Randall Braden of Hays, KS; and Larry Miller of Colby, KS; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Claude Ford and Grace Ford; her husbands, Carl Rasmussen and Gus Juenemann; her siblings, Roy Ford; Bob Ford; CJ Ford; Dee White; and her children Eric Rasmussen; Jim Juenemann; Jack Juenemann; and Mary Braden.

Per Fansion's request, she has been cremated; there will be a memorial at a later date.

Please visit Fansion’s photo tribute to share some memories: