Sandra Rasmussen

Sandra Kay Rasmussen, 86, died peacefully at home on December 21, 2022, at 2:10pm surrounded by her family.

Sandra was born in Kimballton, Iowa, on August 2, 1936, to Elna and Evald Jensen. She was preceded in death by her sister, Elizabeth Jensen (Ibsen). The Jensen family was a leader in the bridge building industry, which brought them to several different locations throughout the Midwest. Her family eventually settled in Des Moines, where Sandra attended and graduated from North High School in 1955. Sandra attended Grand View College and graduated from McAllister College in St. Paul, MN, with a degree in Science and became an expert in genetics. During her time at Grand View College, she met her husband, the late James Rasmussen.

Sandra and James married at Luther Memorial Church in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 30, 1960, surrounded by their home congregation and loved ones. During their 43 years of marriage, they were blessed with three sons: Scott, Kurt and Jeff. While their children were still living at home, the family enjoyed sprint car racing. Many times, Sandra, with the three boys in tow, packed up the RV with her CB radio and followed the sprint car races throughout the Midwest, earning her CB name, "The Cadillac Lady.” During this time, the family met Jeff Woodruff, who became a part of the family. Sandra and Jim both loved horses and horse racing. The family spent hours playing and relaxing at their horse farm, River Ridge Ranch, and attended races at Prairie Meadows. Sandra adorned her horses and devoted significant research to mares and the necessary nutrition during gestation, leading her to be awarded “Breeder of the Year” 13 times throughout her career. Sandy, as she liked to be called by her friends, greatly enjoyed being at Prairie Meadows with her sister Elizabeth, her cousins Sally Blount and Mary Oswald, and high school friend Lois Allen.

Throughout her life, Sandra loved spending time on her boat, The Free Spirit, to escape the cold Iowa winters and bask in the Caribbean sun. She enjoyed fishing with her sons and family – from the bass in Clear Lake to the mahi in the Bahamas. Sandra loved traveling to all parts of the world, and was also an avid collector. She enjoyed a good auction and had several collections of shells, dolls, ice cream molds, lamps, hat pins, Danish porcelain sculptures, elephants and baskets.

Scott, Kurt and Jeff each married and her daughters-in-law, Coco, Lynette and Brenda, gave Sandra seven grandchildren: Alex (33), Mariah (31), Sanna (28), Olivia (27), Karl (25), Sam (22) and Maren (18). Alex and his wife, Hollie, gave Sandra her first great-grandchild, Nina, named after Jim's mother.

Services for Sandra will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at 10:00 am at Luther Memorial Church, 1201 Grandview Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50316. Her family will receive friends at her visitation Friday, January 6, 2023, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Garden’s, 121 NW 60th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50313.

Memorials can be made to the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America c/o the Iowa HBPA, 1 Prairie Meadows Drive, Altoona, Iowa 50009 and the Mercy Fund at Luther Memorial Church, 1201 Grandview Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50316.

Sandra, our beloved friend, wife, mother, aunt and grandmother, is with the Lord, our Savior, and will always live in our hearts. She will be greatly missed.

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