John Rasmussen, age 96, passed away peacefully on Jan. 5, 2026 in Temecula, California. He was born on March 1,1929 on the family farm near Kimballton, Iowa, to Jens and Altje Rasmussen.
John attended schools in Anita, Iowa, and graduated in 1946. He continued his education at Simpson College, earning a degree in coaching, and a teacher’s certificate in 1951.
Santa Barbara was home from 1965 until 2023, when he moved to Temecula, to live with his daughter Joanne and son-in-law Carmen.
John’s journey began when he met Lorraine Acker at a New Year’s Eve dance while home on college break. It was love at first sight, and they were married seven months later on Aug. 12, 1951, shortly after John’s college graduation.
After returning from their honeymoon, life took an unexpected turn: John received his draft notice and headed off for basic training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, on Sept. 4.
He served as staff sergeant in Korea, and after completing his military service, he returned home in July 1953, delighted to be back in the USA 37 hours after leaving his company in Korea.
Back home in Anita, John’s father offered him the opportunity to go into partnership in the family business Rasmussen Hatchery, where John embraced his role as operating partner and manager.
He served on the board at the Methodist Church, was a volunteer firefighter for the Anita Fire Department for 10 years, and a member of the Masonic Lodge, and Chamber of Commerce, and served on the Board of Education.
A particularly proud achievement was chairing a group of citizens that helped found the Lake Anita State Park, which involved the planning and organizing of the committees which made this park possible including bills being submitted to the Iowa Legislature for approval and funding.
John and Lorraine celebrated the arrival of their children James and Joanne. In 1965, after a number of years at the chicken hatchery, John and Lorraine felt inspired to embark on a new adventure.
With excitement (and no job), they sold their house in Anita. They held an auction, selling all but two cedar chests, clothes, blankets, cooking utensils, and the kids’ toys and bikes.
John had a trailer built, and with everything packed in the 4-by-8 trailer behind their car, they were off to California, the land of opportunity.
Aunt Milly, Aunt Leona and their families welcomed them to Solvang and encouraged John to find work in Santa Barbara, where they moved shortly after arriving in California.
He joined Puritan Leasing Company in 1965 and remained there until he retired in 1986. Puritan included five ice plants in California; a vacuum cooling plant for the shipment of lettuce; a leasing company; a Pepsi Cola Bottling Company that manufactured and sold soft drinks throughout a large area along the California coast; and an International Harvester Truck and Farm Equipment dealership in Blythe, California, to name a few.
John’s first position was as field representative. He was promoted to manager of Puritan in the late 1960s and in 1976 he became president of all the Puritan Companies.
Upon retirement, John and Lorraine eagerly embraced travel, exploring countries around the world and every corner of the U.S. The safari in Kenya was a highlight; one John often highly recommended to others. Cruising around South America was also at the top of the list.
Another memorable trip was visiting his brother Bob, Lori and family in Romania, where they were building a church.
John loved honing his golf game at La Cumbre Country Club, where he recorded several holes-in-one. He enjoyed swimming at the YMCA and staying actively engaged in the community.
He generously gave his time, serving on numerous boards and organizations, including the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, First United Methodist Church, Rotary Club, Cosmopolitan Club, and men’s golf group, The Companeros, at La Cumbre Country Club.
For years, the weekly poker game with his friends was something he looked forward to and a highlight of his week.
He was an avid sports fan, especially devoted to the Green Bay Packers— whom he felt deserved special admiration for playing in such cold weather — as well as the Los Angeles Lakers.
He was especially happy to watch the Dodgers win the World Series championships in both 2024 and 2025, a fitting tribute to his favorite team.
Beloved for his storytelling and always optimistic outlook, John, grounded in strong Midwestern values and integrity, was widely regarded as “one of the good guys.”
His lifelong interest in business and finance kept him engaged, and following the stock market was part of his daily routine, fittingly, the market was up on his very last day.
Above all else, John treasured time with his family. Our beloved patriarch and an inspiration to all who knew him, he was always eager to tell a story or two and to offer guidance, especially when it came to finances.
Although he missed Santa Barbara, he was happy to spend his final years in Temecula, living with his daughter Joanne and son-in-law Carmen. Time spent with his family and the experiences they shared brought him immense joy and was what he cherished most.
He was preceded in death by his wife Lorraine of 58 years, parents Jens and Altje, sister Ellen Hoeck, and brother Gene.
John will be dearly missed by his family and friends. He is survived by his son Jim of Eugene, Oregon; daughter Joanne Magazino (Carmen) of Temecula; grandson Matt Magazino (Natalya) of Carlsbad, California, and their son Milo, who John affectionately called The Little Guy; grandson Nick Magazino of North Hollywood, California; brother Bob (Lori) of Hutchinson, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 28 at Welch-Ryce-Haider in downtown Santa Barbara. Luncheon will follow the service. For details and to confirm your attendance, please RSVP to zino3914@msn.com by Feb. 18.
If you wish to make a donation in John’s memory, please consider VNA Health and mail to 509 E. Montecito St., Ste. 200, Santa Barbara, CA 93103; or Rotary Club of Santa Barbara, PO Box 6268, Santa Barbara, CA 93160.