We celebrate the life of Eric P. Rasmussen who passed away peacefully on Friday, February 27, 2026, at his home with his wife Liz at his side.

Eric was born on January 18, 1937, in Fulton, New York to Peter and Dorothy Rasmussen.

Eric spent his childhood with his parents and two older sisters, Joan and Jane in Fulton. As a family they spent their summers at Henderson Harbor on Lake Ontario. Trips to the Adirondacks and hunting with his father inspired a lifelong love of the outdoors.

With the intent of spending his life working in the forest he attended Paul Smith's College and the Environmental Sciences and Forestry program at Syracuse University. Following his graduation Eric got a position as a forester with the National Forest Service at the Siuslaw National Forest in Oregon.

But as it so often does, life happened. While attending Paul Smith's, Eric met his first wife Loretta, whose parents owned Lange's Grove Side in Acra, New York. They married and made their first home in Walport, Oregon. What started as a temporary relocation back to New York to help out at Lange's turned into a lifetime of owning and running a small Catskill Mountain resort.

Even as Eric learned the ropes of running a resort and raising his family the outdoors was where he found his solace. He went to the forested parts of the property and developed a network of nature trails, planted trees and built ponds. Naming his tree farm "Siuslaw", after the forest where he worked after college. Always eager to share his love for the forest, Eric thrived on bringing his children, grandchildren, hotel guests, school children and many others into the woods to educate and inspire.

After the sale of Lange's, Eric with his wife Liz by his side was truly able to devote his life to his own forest. Now under the care of Cornell Cooperative Extension the Siuslaw Model Forest is being used to teach, demonstrate and share the joy Eric always found in the woods.

Eric was a member of Cairo Hose Co., Kedemah Masonic Lodge, Greene County Resort Assoc., Cairo UMC-where he served as trustee, Greene County Soil and Water, Cairo Board of Elections as head voting machine custodian, Greene Land Trust, Siuslaw Model Forest, NYS Watershed Ag Council and RC & D.

Eric is survived by his wife, Liz (Joseph), daughters Laurie Brezniceanu of West Kill and Karen and husband Michael Gallo of Cairo, son Rick and wife Amy (Casler) Rasmussen of Remsen. Grandsons Karl and wife Amanda (Deeter) Rasmussen, Philip Gallo, Peter Rasmussen and Luke Rasmussen. Sister, Jane Wilcox and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by wife, Loretta (Lange), sister Joan Streeter and nephew Glenn Streeter.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Rasmussen Fund at the Agroforestry Center 6055 RT. 23 Acra, NY 12405.

Visitation will be offered on Wednesday, March 4 from 3 to 7 p.m. at A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home 4898 SR 81 Greenville, NY.

A funeral service will be offered on Thursday March 5 at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church 488 Main Street Cairo, NY.

Care has been entrusted to AJ Cunningham Funeral Home and condolences may be left at www.ajcunninghamfh.com.