Rasmus recalled as friendly, patriotic man
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By Mark Gundermanmgunderman@chippewa.com
Wednesday, October 19, 2005 12:15 PM CDT
Bob Boettcher and Louis Rineck had no doubt about what transpired in the last moments of Paul Rasmus’ life. That’s because they know the character of the U.S. Navy Seabee and fellow members of the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council.
Outside of Horan Funeral Home, where hundreds of people were filing past Rasmus’ closed casket, the men spoke of the split-second decision they were sure Rasmus made.
Rasmus was the driver of the bus carrying Chippewa Falls High School Marching Band members, with teachers and chaperones, that struck the undercarriage of an overturned semi early Sunday morning. Rasmus was one of five people killed in a crash that has shaken not only the entire community, but the nation.
Boettcher had heard that the bus struck the under side of the semi trailer that offered the least resistance to the oncoming bus. Had the bus struck elsewhere, "ten more people would have been killed," Boettcher said.
He and Rineck had no doubt that Rasmus aimed for that spot, trying to save as many people as he could, no matter what happened to him.
He was, after all, a Navy Seabee.
Paul Rasmus was one of the most active members of the Patriotic Council, which provides military rites at funerals of veterans in the Chippewa Falls area. "A mainstay," Boettcher called him.
He died at age 78, but was in better health than most of the members of the aging council. To keep up his commercial driver’s license so he could continue to drive high school students on bus trips, Rasmus had to have a physical every six months. He always passed.
At 6:30 p.m. 20 members of the Patriotic Council — quite a good showing — came through the funeral home together to pay their respects. At the cemetery today for the military rites at burial, 22 members are expected to attend.
"Everybody wanted to come," Boettcher said.
Chi-Hi students may have known little about Rasmus’ life as a soldier who served his country in World War II, or about his veterans activities in retirement, but many came to the visitation nonetheless. A banner hanging on the wall to the right of the casket told the story of their affection for the man who drove them to so many school activities.
"Thanks for the Good Times" the banner read.
Around those words were messages from students, most offering prayers.
"Thank you for sacrificing your life and 55th anniversary for us," wrote a student named Hannah.
"You sacrificed a lot for us. Your life should not have been one of those sacrifices. God bless your family and thank you for trying in that second to stop our bus," wrote Danielle Hetke.
"Paul loved the kids and the kids so loved Paul," said George Roberts, Rasmus’ son-in-law, who spoke on behalf of the family at the visitation.
"He so loved being around the kids," Roberts said. "Paul died doing a job he really loved."
In these days following the tragedy on I-94, Rasmus’ role as a bus driver and friend of youth has come to the forefront. There was more to his life, as Roberts recounted.
"Anyone who knew Paul knew a kind, caring and intelligent man," Roberts said.
And a friendly one, too. Roberts drove students all over the state, and to events as far away as the Olympic Games in Atlanta. He always came back with stories of seeing people he knew, or meeting new friends.
He delighted in greeting friends as he walked through a room, and if he made a lot of friends.
"It took Paul a long time to cross a room," Roberts said.
It took a long time for his friends to cross the room where the visitation was held, too. People waited in line more than two hours to pay their respects, which did not go unnoticed by the family.
"Thanks for all of the outpouring we have seen tonight," Roberts said. "And thanks for your patience."
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