Arthur E. Rasmussen of Walton, 85, died at his home on September 3rd after an extended illness.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joann who, along with their children and spouses–Mark Rasmussen and Zheng Ping of London, UK; Will and Jane Rasmussen of London, UK; Kim Rasmussen and Glenn McGuiness of Bovina and New York City, Ann Rasmussen and Chris Cerf of Montclair, N.J.–and Grandchildren (Luke, Emma and Mark Rasmussen, as well as Nathan, Leah and Will Cerf) will miss him dearly.

Arthur was born November 2, 1922 in Englewood, N.J. to Bertie Fowler and Arthur Rasmussen. After graduating from White Plains (N.Y.) High School in 1939, he studied first at Middlebury College (VT), then at the University of Chicago, completing work on his MA in half the traditional time. He finished his MA thesis for Chicago at sea in 1943 while serving in the Merchant Marine during World War II. He first served as an able-bodied Seaman and finally Ensign and later served as an officer in the U.S. Army until the end of the war. Following the war he attended Harvard Business School and achieved his MBA in 1947. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Hartwick College in 1995.

Arthur joined the management consulting firm Booz, Allen & Hamilton. He later moved to Philco, then to CongoleumNairn Corp. From 1957 – 67 he was Financial VP and Director of Avco Corp. He became President of Household International Inc in 1967 at age 45, retiring from that position five years later, then served as its Chairman from 1972 to 1990.

At the same time, he served on the boards of a number of major corporations including Amoco (Standard Oil Co.), Central and South West Corporation (now AEP) and Abbott Laboratories. In addition, he served on the boards or their derivatives of a long list of not-for-profit organizations. These included the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Hartwick College (Vice-Chair), The Field Foundation of Illinois, Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, Adler Planetarium – Chicago and the National Business Council for Consumer Affairs.

Arthur also served as an advisor to the President of Venezuela.

Art was an astute investor…buying land in Delaware County, NY over fifty years ago at the now inconceivable price of $5.00 an acre. He and Joann moved to Walton in 1990 and became active in local and regional affairs. Arthur served as a director of Delaware National Bancshares, National Bank of Delaware County and State University at Delhi. An owner and manager of forest properties and other real estate holdings in three states, Arthur was a founding director of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development and the Delaware County Conservation Association.

He was a major supporter and board member of the Institute for American Values, which works to reverse the decline of marriage and family in this country. He helped bring the Institute together with the University of Chicago to form the Council on Civil Society. He provided startup funding for a degree in family support at the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Social Services Administration. This was the first such program in the United States.

Arthur was active with the National Association of Scholars, working to encourage more stress on liberal arts at American colleges and universities. He also served on the National Alumni Forum, which works to improve governance on university boards of trustees.

With his wife Joann he supported organizations working to reform child adoption laws and reduce red-tape delays in child adoption in New York.

Arthur said his charitable work, after retiring from business, opened "new vistas in the sunlit upland of life." Appropriately, he and Joann named their upstate New York property "The Sunlit Uplands".

Arthur's greatest loves were his wife Joann, children, grandchildren, the great outdoors, poetry

and friends. He constantly challenged himself to master new subjects, aid numerous causes, to

inspire and encourage countless people. He made a fortune and gave away a fortune, shifted

the course of American business, and, as rugged and resilient as he was, melted under the spell

of fine poetry. All in all, he lived a magnificent life, brimming with optimism; never

looking back to regret – a word that never entered his vocabulary. He taught us how to

keep to our responsibilities. He challenged us to sharpen our thinking. He taught us

how to focus our thoughts for the heavy lifting life throws at us.

He left us with a multitude of

glorious thoughts and one which should inspire us 'til we die – one of his favorite questions:

What are your plans?

He encouraged others to involve themselves in charitable work. A remark of his that helps capture much of Arthur Rasmussen's view of life: "Let us celebrate the future with our deeds."

A memorial service will be held to celebrate his life on Thursday, September 18th at The New Hope Community Church at 45 Stockton Avenue in Walton at 11:30 am.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Walton Fire Dept., 61 West Street, Walton, NY 13856