Otto Lee Rasmussen

Otto Lee Rasmussen was born in Tacoma, Washington to his parents, Otto and Marie Rasmussen in May 1942. He grew up on a small farm in Parkland just south of Tacoma. Otto attended Parkland Grade School and graduated from Franklin Pierce High School in 1960. He attended Washington State University and The University of Puget Sound earning bachelor’s degrees in Geology and Business with minors in Economics and Political Science. It was at The University of Puget Sound where he met his loving wife of 55 years, Christine; a match truly made in Heaven.

Otto worked his way through college building homes on his parents’ property. Not finding a suitable opening in the geological field, he started a small construction business. As a working owner, he spent 43 years building new homes and doing remodels. Otto’s business turned to marine related construction for its last 15 years of operation, building and repairing boathouses, docks and floats. Whenever someone sold one, they would proudly advertise, “This is an Otto-built boathouse.”

Otto was truly a boater, owning his first boat at the age of 15, before he had a driver’s license. In 1994, the family purchased the 42’ Corsair Cruiser which they still enjoy today. There were countless hours of fun and memories on the cruises shared with friends and family. Otto was dedicated to the instruction of boating safety and navigation. He was a 48-year member of the Tacoma Power Squadron, our local branch of the current “America’s Boating Club” dedicated to boating safety and education around the world. Otto and Christine served by teaching classes, and being committee chairs and department heads throughout the years. Otto was a “people person” and put anywhere near another boater, it was often said, “Otto talks a lot.” Yes, a true boater.

Otto leaves his wife Christine, sons Rod and Dan, grandsons Ryan and Quinn, granddaughter Erika, daughters-in-law Carolyn and Alisa Rasmussen and three half-brothers Donald (Marilyn) and Frants (Ruth) who preceded Otto in death and Glen. Otto asked to specifically call out his grandson Quinn who was his true boating buddy as he grew up.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Otto’s name to his favorite charity, America’s Boating Club (https://giveabc.org/) or the great people who worked so hard in his fight for life, the Amyloidosis Foundation (https://amyloidosis.org/) and the Oregon Health & Science University (https://www.onwardohsu.org/donation). A private interment for Otto will be held near the entrance of Chambers Bay after the pandemic subsides. As he steered under the railroad lift bridge at Chambers Bay, Otto often said, “The Pearly Gates of Heaven can’t look any better than this.” Calm waters and smooth cruising.