Kirk Glenn Rasmussen

February 7, 1944 - June 13, 2023

We are saddened to announce the death of Kirk Glenn Rasmussen of Springville, Utah. Kirk passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on June 13, 2023, at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo.

Kirk was born in San Francisco on February 7, 1944. He grew up in the Los Angeles area, but always preferred Provo, where he eventually moved permanently to live with his grandparents and attend Provo High School. After graduating from Provo High in 1961, Kirk attended Pasadena Community College before enrolling at Brigham Young University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in English in 1966 and a master's degree in English in 1968. He later received his PhD in English from University of Utah in 1971.

Kirk and Evelyn Earl married in 1966 and they welcomed their daughter, Heidi Karen Rasmussen (Totten), in March of 1972. After his divorce from Evelyn, he met and married Georgia Kenney in 1976 and became stepfather to her daughters, Erin Adrianne McNeal and Kacy Ann Sack McNeal (Faulconer). One more daughter, Carly Kay Rasmussen (Paul), was born to them in 1978.

Kirk was an assistant professor at Salem (West Virginia) College from 1971-73, and later moved back to Utah, where he taught at Utah Technology College in Orem. He moved up the ranks to associate professor as UTC became Utah Valley Community College and Utah Valley State College. He taught literature classes as well as upper-division writing classes. He was writing program coordinator from 1990-1992 and department chair from 1992-1994.

While he taught many different periods of English and Irish literature, Kirk's passion was Shakespeare, and he spent several months in London studying in the Globe Theater. In fact, Kirk traveled extensively throughout the United Kingdom in his capacity as an English professor. His favorite trips, however, were to Ireland with his wife, Georgia, and to London with his daughters, Heidi and Carly. Despite his love of high British culture, he never went to London without bringing his own stash of mac and cheese.

He retired from full-time teaching at Utah Valley State College in 2010, but continued to teach part time until 2017. Kirk loved teaching and positively impacted thousands of students during his career. He is listed as a noteworthy English educator by Marquis Who's Who.

In addition to his love of English literature and teaching, Kirk also loved golf, which he played nearly every day. He served as the secretary of the Tri City Men's Golf Association in American Fork from 1987-1994 and achieved 5 holes-in-one during his lifetime. He was also passionate about baseball and loved movies, leaving behind a vast collection of classic films. Additionally, he loved motorcycles and scooters and was a member of the Harley Davidson Owners Group. Up until the day of his death, he had been in contact with his close friend and scooter dealer, Dave Hurtado, to import a scooter with a sidecar. We think it's still waiting to clear customs.

Kirk was intelligent, generous, and a loving and involved grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Georgia, daughters Erin McNeal (Jon Deem), Heidi (David) Totten, Kacy (Christian) Faulconer, and Carly (Michael) Paul, sister Polly (John) Olguin, brother Scott (Heidi) Rasmussen, and grandchildren Zachary Deem, Samuel (Charlotte) Faulconer, Margaret (William) Heath, Holden Paul, Jackson Deem, Benjamin Faulconer, Joshua Totten, Hazel Paul, Clara Totten, Ellen Faulconer, Ruby Paul, and Wells Paul. He will be missed.

A celebration of Kirk's life will take place at Walker Sanderson Funeral Home in Provo during a visitation from 5:00-7:00 pm on June 24th. Those wishing to pay their respects may stop by during those hours to share a memory of Kirk and chat with the family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Kirk's name to Project Read to honor his love of books.