Autobiography – Jeanne L. Rasmussen critic

 

We’ve all heard the expression the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree, and in many ways I feel that’s me.

 

I was born in Grand Rapids, MN on my mother’s birthday, September 28. I was baptized, confirmed and married, the latter two in Christ Church.

 

My childhood consisted of many things, including dance classes beginning around the age of 4. I was a tap dancer and toe dancer until my teenage years when I turned my pirouette into floor routines as a gymnast, along with routines on the balance beam, uneven parallel bars and the vault. Growing up I competed in gymnastics, downhill skiing and later in college diving. I may have excelled in the athletic department but I always felt my true love was camping. My family camped (the old fashion way with a tent and four air mattresses) from around the ages of 6 to 16+.

 

Sundays were always spent in Church first, then visiting with family or friends. Often times Carl and Chris Shoaff would come home with us and we’d all go hiking, and other Sundays we’d stay in town with them and go to a show. Sundays were not days we worked. They were truly family (friend) days with big Sunday dinners.

 

I participated in CIT (counselor in training) at Camp Mekaga and was then qualified to be a camp counselor at Camp Mishawaka. I maybe didn’t earn much in the way of money but my summers were more memorable than working at Bridgeman’s (my winter employment while in high school). Somewhere in all my camping I not only fell in love with nature, I knew there was a special bond I had with God. I often thought I could commit my life to being a nun. This was a secret I never shared. I wasn’t comfortable sharing that kind of radical thinking with anyone, but I knew the relationship I had with God was there.

 

When I finished high school I attended Itasca Community College for my first two years, and by now the Veit Nam war was well under way and the “hippie-generation” was in full swing. (me with it). I then moved on to the University of MN in Duluth, and prior to finishing my last year I married Ron Rasmussen. Ron was part of our US Navy having a cryptographic clearance and copied Morris code. We finished out his last six months in Virginia Beach, VA.

 

Returning to civilian life we moved to St. Paul, MN where Ron was trained with HFC (Household Finance Co.) to be a manager and was given an office in St. Louis, Missouri. Later transferred (with HFC) to Des Moines, IA. While in Des Moines I took a position with a bank in their Bond Dept. working for a Vice President. Ron decided to go back to school for Court Reporting and Des Moines had a Nationally accredited Court Reporting School. Upon graduation we moved to Creighton, NE and Ron worked with a District Judge covering 7 counties. At this point Ron was called an “Official Court Reporter” one that worked for the State. In the meantime I took a job with the local Insurance Agency.

 

Around this point and time in our marriage (5 years) we were ready to start a family and through a lot of attempts, surgeries, disappointments and heartaches we ended up with only each other – and no regrets. (This was on going for about 10 years) I surrounded myself with children by teaching Sunday school, being the Sunday school Director, assisting with Vacation Bible school. I day-cared our niece from age 2 to 5 along with our neighbor’s young son. Our lives have been richly blessed in so many other ways.

 

Then an opportunity came up for Ron to be his own boss with two partners and open a “Freelance Court reporting” firm in Minneapolis, MN. Once again we packed up our belongings and relocated to Minneapolis. Here is where I had my chance to return to school and get my degree in Fashion Merchandising. I worked part time for Ron and worked as a Manufacturers Representative for a clothing line. At this point I found working for Ron was more challenging. He eventually ended up with one partner and 22 reporters. I was his office manager, and we worked long hard hours together - - and loved every minute of it. We hit a brick wall when Ron needed a triple by-pass (at the tender age of 38). We sold the business to his partner and bought a motor home. We traveled for 8-9 months and put things back into perspective. Working too many hours and pushing ourselves with 12 to 16 hour days totally blocked some of the most important things in life; how to relax, how to have fun doing nothing, how to fish and enjoy a garden. Thus we decided to build our home and a new future up north on some property up in Grand Rapids. I’ve been with American Bank for 17 years working my way up to Vice President and Branch Manager. I love my job; the people I work with, and I love the relationship I have with the customers.

 

We’ve been here now for 18 years. I reflect on the experiences I have had and those that I have shared and the experiences that have touched me to my core. I realize how God has moved in me. How God has moved me to where I am, and for reasons I never would have thought I would be. But, I’m glad I am where I am.

 

With the passing of my Mother and my Father, I know I have Ron, my brother, sister-in-law, our nieces and nephews, and I am always comforted with my family at Christ Church.

 

I feel I have been called to come back home, to come back to Grand Rapids and to be a part of Christ Church, to keep her doors always open for anyone who wants to enter in. My journey in faith started right here and I have come full circle in returning to my roots.