Curtis was born in Terre Haute, Indiana to Raymond Henry and Ruth King Rasmussen on May 17, 1954. He grew up in South Tampa, and graduated from HB Plant High School in 1972. He owned Child Care Supply of Tampa, providing supplies for day care centers in the Tampa Bay area for 25 years. He always had a smile, ready to crack a joke with his customers, while working tirelessly to meet their needs. He was a wonderful grill master and cook, a gracious host with his wife Liz, providing many memorable gatherings on his large property, where the kids would swing from trees, feed fish in the pond, ride mini-ATV’s, drive the golf cart, swim, ride a horse, shoot hoops, and enjoy various animals. He was an animal lover throughout his life, bringing home injured animals and birds, nursing them back to health, to return them to nature. Curtis enjoyed spending time on the water, teaching his daughters to ski at a young age. He loved all sports, following the Bulls, Rays, Buccaneers and Crimson Tide. He was extremely involved in the lives of his two daughters, Crystal Van Arsdall and Ashley Marie Ball. He expressed that his biggest source of pride was his daughters. He was a hands-on dad taking Crystal to gymnastic and diving lessons and competitions. He purchased a horse and started riding lessons for Ashley when she was 9. Crystal is a diving record holder at HB Plant High School and was a three time All American scholarship athlete at the University of Alabama. She has a master's degree in occupational therapy and is the Director of a rehabilitation center in Ocala, FL. Ashley followed in her dad’s footsteps with a love for animals. After numerous Equine Grand Champion awards and several notorious Circuit wins, Ashley was recruited by the University of Georgia for their equestrian team. She ultimately decided to stay local and attend the University of South Florida for her BA and later earn her Master's in Criminal Justice from St. Leo College. She opened her own marketing and consulting firm in 2016 and currently works as marketing communications manager for one of the largest RV dealers in the Country. Curtis was a kid at heart, a practical jokester who enjoyed writing witty and serious poems. He loved country music, enjoyed camping, especially in North Carolina, playing basketball and an occasional round of golf.
Curtis is preceded in death by his mother and father.
Curtis is survived by his loving wife Elizabeth (Liz), daughters Crystal Van Arsdall (Kyle) and Ashley Ball, sister Donna Rasmussen, grandchildren Owen and Leighton Van Arsdall, Liam and Luke Ball, nephew and niece Adam and Kailee Rasmussen, as well as aunts and cousins.
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