Jack and Shirley Rasmussen. Submitted photo.
Submitted by the Community Foundation for Mason County
Shirley Rasmussen, a member of the Mason County community for nearly a century, has made a recent contribution to the Campaign for Mason County in honor of her late husband, Jack, and her late son, Craig.
Rasmussen’s story is part of the vibrant fabric of Ludington’s history, from her childhood days playing under lilac bushes to her wartime experiences and raising a family here. Her gift to the campaign is the latest chapter in her lifelong commitment to making Ludington a better place.
The Community Foundation for Mason County’s Campaign for Mason County is a community-driven initiative focused on raising $5 million to support the area’s greatest needs and opportunities. The goal seeks to triple the Foundation’s grant-making capacity, ensuring a lasting impact on educational attainment, workforce development, and recreation and quality of life.
Rasmussen’s love for this community began as a young girl, playing beneath her grandmother’s lilac bushes on Lakeshore Drive while observing the summer influx of Epworth Heights visitors. She attended Foster School and lived above her father’s tavern (now Bud’s Tap Room). During World War II, while a college student, she worked as a server on a car ferry. In those years, she also met her beloved Jack at the Oswald Crumb Room in the Stearns Hotel.
Shirley and Jack married in 1948 and built their life together in Ludington. A few years after they wed, Jack was one of 20 pilots sent to fly helicopters in Korea during the Korean War. He was one of only nine who returned home. Rasmussen still thinks about her friends – the wives who lost their husbands. “I was one of the lucky ones,” she said.
Jack switched from law to business, eventually owning Atkinson Manufacturing. Shirley, a former teacher, focused on raising their three sons. The family enjoyed sports, the arts, and church. Picnics at Ludington State Park also became cherished shared memories for them.
Later, Shirley and Jack experienced the loss of their son, Craig, to AIDS during a time when understanding and acceptance were scarce.
“There was no cure, and not much was known about it, especially in small towns,” she said. This motivated Shirley to become a passionate advocate for education and awareness about the disease. To honor their talented son’s memory, she and Jack established arts-related scholarships at Ludington High School and West Shore Community College, and they built a playground at the Mason County District Library’s Ludington branch in his name.
Throughout their lives, Shirley and Jack were dedicated supporters of numerous local organizations and initiatives, including the Mason County Promise and Salvation Army, where Shirley served on the board for 25 years, the hospital, Mason County Veterans’ Endowment, and the sculpture park. Jack is often remembered for his commitment to honoring fellow veterans, placing flags at their graves every Memorial Day for 62 years – a tradition cherished by his community.
Rasmussen’s desire for her legacy is simple but profound: “I want to be remembered for having helped make Ludington a better place,” she said.
Shirley’s generosity echoes the spirit of her late husband, Jack, and son, Craig. Her gift is given on their behalf and with the encouragement of the rest of her loving family: sons Tom and Steve and daughter-in-law Anne Marie, reflecting their collective love for this community.
To contribute or learn more about the Campaign for Mason County, visit https://mason-foundation.org/ or contact Andrea Large at alarge@cffmc.org or 231.845.0326.
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