Contributed by Mary Carlson McDermid, Class of 1966:
Ding! Instant message arriving, a WKS Alumnus, class of 72, has left this earthly world too soon. The question in the message was, “Is there something that can be done to recognize John Asmussen?” I responded, “I will see what I can do.” The work of connecting dots to learn of WKS alumnus John George Asmussen’s life and the legacy he created began.
I never knew John in real life. Being six years older I was looking down the road to what was ahead. My simple response to the instant message and the information that flowed into my inbox thereafter brought unexpected memories that made me stop and rethink what I missed out on fifty-four years ago. Perhaps I should have wanted to know what was behind. I missed out on knowing John and conclude I would have really liked this guy.
The memory provoking thoughts of life 54 years ago in Silver Bay began with that instant message from Mary Walentiny, a *tribute to John about growing up in SB written by Joe Walentiny, a good friend of John’s, and Caroline Walentiny connecting me to Karen Schultz, John’s sister. With Karen’s sharing of photos, loving tribute letter and remembrances of John, I knew a story was waiting to be told.
John was born on April 22, 1954 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin and grew up in Silver Bay, Minnesota. He graduated from William M. Kelley High School with the class of 1972 and headed off to St. John’s University in the fall of the same year. Thus, John’s passion for learning and his dedication to the importance of the accountability and governance in higher education began to take on meaning and development. John met his wife, Beth, during his college days, and they were together for 40+ years raising two boys and enjoying being Grandparents to two grandchildren.
Family, friends, and colleagues concurred that “family” was everything to John. He was described as “the best, a Renaissance Man, a visionary with integrity,honesty, a grounded, humble man who loved his family”. John enjoyed traveling with Beth fishing, gardening, spending time with lifelong friends, playing cards, playing the piano, and cheering on the Minnesota Twins.
John valued the importance of education as well as family. He reached an accounting degree from St. John’s University in 1976, a Master of Business Administration from Metropolitan State University in 2003, and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota in 2010. Dr. John G. Asmussen went on to become a lecturer at the U of M teaching graduate courses in Case Studies for Policy Research and Higher Education Policy. Dr. Asmussen’s specialties included measuring postsecondary student success, designing program evaluations, applying advanced regression analyses and other statistical techniques, and assessing organizational environments to aid with leadership transitions.
John’s 34-year auditing career with the State of Minnesota started in the Office of the Legislative Auditor in 1976. He subsequently served as Deputy Auditor of the Financial Audit Division of the OLA from 1982-1997. John served as the President of The Minnesota Society of CPA’s from 1996-1997 and he was the director of Internal Auditing for the Minnesota State Colleges and University System from 1997-2010. John retired from the state in 2010 and founded his own firm Asmussen Research & Consulting, LLC specializing in higher education accountability and governance.
After long moments lost in thought and pondering in closing I believe John’s contribution to making the world a better place was to improve systems of many types, be it a learning system that addresses accountability, a business system that has strong oversite, or how to have fun system - relaxing in a boat catching fish while laughing with family and friends. He truly was a “Renaissance Man.” (This description came from John’s wife, Beth, in her comments back to me after editing my writing.)
On February 5, 2020 John died following a heart attack and is survived by his wife, Beth, and two sons. His son, Jess, and wife, Gwen, live in McCall, Idaho. Chad and his wife Ruba, with their children Elise and Emerson, live in Portland, Oregon. John’s Father, George and brothers Dan and Jeff still live in Silver Bay, Minnesota while his brother Dave lives in Palmetto, Florida. His sister Karen and husband Mike Schultz live in Rio Rancho, New Mexico and Julie Beloy lives in Sartell, Minnesota. Many beloved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws also survive John. He was preceded in death by his mother, Pat.
There will be a memorial service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Silver Bay on July 11, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a lunch. (Bay Days).
While typing this closing announcement for John’s memorial service a new flood of memories pours in, a lunch, a dinner, a reception, Wednesday release for catechism class, a bingo game in the basement of St. Mary’s Church. John will be at St. Mary’s with those that love him and attend the memorial service to bid him a fond and loving “until we meet again.” I can feel his energy, his reach, and the importance of the people in his circle. He touched so many in his humble, dedicated way.
A “Mighty Mariner” I really wish I had known. “Once a Mariner, Always a Mariner”
A Remembrance of John Asmussen Class of 1972
Written by Joe Walentiny:
John Asmussen was one my earliest and best friends. I believe we first met through our mutual church – St. Mary’s - as part of Catechism classes. But also, John grew up on Charles Circle across the street from another mutual friend of ours – Bob Meyer. The three of us had a very solid connection all the way through high school and beyond.
There are so many things that made John special. Start with his wonderful sense of humor which I think was best expressed in his deep, booming, heartfelt laughter that was its own epicenter of joy. John always loved telling and hearing great stories. He and I were in several plays together in high school in which he always seemed to end up playing a cop. During our senior year at the Fine Arts banquet we got up a ‘special award’ for John for his several law enforcement roles. I had the pleasure of presenting him with this award which he accepted with all the humor that was intended to the abject enjoyment of everyone there including John.
John had a wide range of friends with a variety of interests. He was an excellent student and throughout his life was devoted to the importance and promotion of education. His academic and professional accomplishments spoke volumes for his brilliance and discipline. Throughout high school then onto college and ultimately to receiving a PhD, John had many friends and colleagues within that lane. But regardless of whatever his vast achievements were he always spoke of them with modesty and humility and never in my recollection did he initiate any conversation about them. John never forgot where he came from. This was the same guy who for years went fishing every opening day of the season with high school pals, Ron Olsen, Greg Clarke, and Howie Larson up at Woman Lake. I always knew John to be available and fully accessible to everyone he met or knew, whether old or new friends.
In high school and college, we had so many wonderful experiences together. When we were in Junior High several of us belonged to a junior bowling league and John used to crack all of us up with how he would bowl. Instead of a graceful stride and release he had this sort of tortured, comical, bird-walk before plopping the ball down the alley. In high school John got a Honda Trail 90 motorcycle which inspired me to beg my parents for one too (amazingly they caved). We used to ride those motorcycles everywhere together and one day we mutually decided to try and take them through a powerline clear-cut that ran off the golf course road. We soon discovered that trailbikes actually require some sort of trail… (we ended up doing more pushing then riding). Also, in high school he, Bob Meyer and I would often see who could get the family car and we’d all chip in to buy a dollar’s worth of gas (this in the days when gas was around 30 cents a gallon). Then we would drive around all the streets in Silver Bay just talking about any and everything – this was in the way pre-cable/internet days.
Later, John and I made a trip to St Cloud State University with my mother and her friend Marge Malaski. We were both very intent on going to school there, but my mother annoyingly convinced us to also look at St. John’s University because Marge M’s son, Ray was attending there. So, we went, and we looked and lo and behold – both of us ended up going there! Our first year of school John and I were in the same dorm and he lived across the hall from me. I recall one time he and his roommate decided to have a party in their dorm room and to keep expenses down they bought 7 cases of a very cheap beer call ‘Tempo’ that ran around 70 Cents a six pack. I guess you pay for what you get because at the end of the party they had 5 cases left over…
John met his future wife Beth in college (she went to our sister school, St Benedicts). Though we had drifted off in different social circles (he the excellent academic and me the… well, Art student) Beth recently reminded me of a trip a bunch of us made to the Twin Cities to see a Moliere play at the old Tyrone Guthrie theater along with dinner at Prachna’s on Main which had just recently opened back then. This would something our old gang would occasionally do since we all love theater so much. I also had the pleasure of attending their wedding and took so much joy in that they raised two wonderful sons. After I moved to New York in the late 80s I didn’t get back to Minnesota much and we eventually lost touch except for a couple times when we did get together. John and Beth both attended my parent’s funerals which meant the world to me. Although those were sad occasions it was still so good and a comfort for me to see such a good old friend.
It is hard for me to imagine the world without John Asmussen – his passing was way too soon, too sudden and heartbreaking for those that knew him well. A very good man, husband, father, brother, son and good, good friend has left this earth before his time. May my good, dear old friend rest in peace...
