1908 ~ 2004
Dr. Jewell J. Rasmussen, Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Utah, died 25 October 2004 at the age of 95 in Idaho Falls, Idaho where he lived for the past three years.
Born in Spring City, Utah, 18 November 1908, he was the son of Danish immigrants, Christian Waldemar and Sorine Christine Sorensen Rasmussen. Dr. Rasmussen graduated from Snow College in 1929 prior to attending the University of Utah where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics. He embarked on his teaching career at Granite High School and concurrently pursued his masters degree in economics at the University of Utah, receiving his graduate degree in 1936. After teaching a year at Weber College, Dr. Rasmussen became Director of Research for the Utah Education Association where he served until 1942 when he joined the faculty of the Economics Department at the University of Utah. In the same year he was elected a member of the Board of Directors of Educators Mutual Insurance Association. In 1945 he was elected President of Educators Mutual, a position he held until 1985.
Dr. Rasmussen was awarded his doctoral degree in economics from Stanford University and continued his teaching career at the University of Utah, rising from the ranks of instructor to professor. For ten years he served as chairman of the Economics Department. It was said of him that as chairman "he was responsible for the department's intellectual diversity, intellectual and academic tolerance as well as our fiercely maintained climate of intellectual freedom . . ."
His economics research focused primarily on state and local finance. Over the years, he was frequently consulted regarding matters of fiscal policy by Utah governors, members of the state legislature, mayors and other governmental officials. He served as a consultant for the United States Bureau of the Budget, for the President's Water Resources Policy Commission and for other public agencies. In these activities he acted out of civic duty and pride and gave freely of his time and services.
In 1966 Dr. Rasmussen was selected to give the 30th Annual Reynolds lecture at the University of Utah and was awarded a distinguished service award from the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters in 1967.
Following retirement from teaching in 1977, Dr. Rasmussen continued active participation in academic and civic matters. His post-retirement activities included serving as a member of the Executive Committee of the Utah Council on Economic Education, executive secretary of the Utah Association of Academic Professionals, making annual projections of state tax revenue for the Utah Education Association, and occasional consultation with state tax committees on taxation policies. In 1996, the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Utah published his final book, History of Utah's First Century of Taxation and Public Debt, in connection with centennial observances of the State.
He married Dorothea LaRue Jensen in 1932 in the Salt Lake Temple. She preceded him in death in 1980. Two sons were born to the couple, Jewell Jensen (deceased) and Waldemar E. In 1985, he married Edith Braund.
Survivors include Edith Braund Rasmussen, Eloise Cooke Rasmussen (daughter-in-law), Waldemar E. Rasmussen (Harriet Ann Richards), Jean Braund (Joseph) Elison (step-daughter), Della Oldham (sister), 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
A life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he will be remembered for his service in the Monument Park 9th Ward.
Funeral services will be held for Dr. Rasmussen at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, 30 October 2004, at the Monument Park 9th Ward Chapel, 1565 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Dr., Salt Lake City, Utah.