Obituary of Kenneth W. Rasnick

May 13, 1960 - December 12, 2019

Kenneth W. Rasnick.  Age 59 of Wyandotte.

Beloved husband of Joan Rasnick.  Loving step father of David (Tammy) McMath and Daniel (Abbie) McMath.  Dearest son of the late Mary Smith.  Grandson of the late R.L. and the late Bessie Washam.  Dear brother of Tony Smith, Steve Smith and Betty Szarama.  Also survived by 4 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild and many nieces and nephews. 

Family Tribute

Deacon Ken was born in Southwest Detroit, the second oldest of five kids. He was especially close to his mother, Mary Smith, and his grandparents, R.L. and Bessie Washam. He loved his old neighborhood and all of the memories. He drove past the house they grew up in every time he went to Armando’s for Mexican food.

Ken proudly served our country in the U.S. Marine Corp. He was selected as one of the top ten Marine’s across the country to serve in the White House Presidential Guard under President Ronald Reagan. Part of his duties in Washington, DC included teaching the inner city handicapped kids how to swim.

Deacon Ken was such a caring, loving person, always giving to others. He truly was born with a servant's heart. He was especially drawn to elder ministry, visiting seniors every week at local senior buildings, bringing a listening ear and the sacrament of Holy Communion each week. Another ministry dear to him was helping Veterans. He volunteered at the DCC in Southgate, assisting vets in any way that he could, especially regarding helping obtain benefits and assisting with the food outreach there. He was honored to be part of the team at the 28th District Military Court, where he would serve as chaplain and mentor, as well as helping implement programs for meaningful community service for vets.

He was a loving husband of Joan, dear stepfather of Dave and Dan McMath, loving grandpa of Emily, Nicole, Owen, Ryan and great-grandpa of Josiah. Ken loved camping, backyard fires, and cooking! A few years back when our area experienced an electrical blackout for several days, Ken fired up his beloved grill and grilled all of the meat from his freezer to feed the neighborhood.

He will be sadly missed by his wife, Joan, his family, his Grace Church family, friends, neighbors, and everyone whose lives he touched.

Ken’s giving spirit continues; his corneas, bone, and skin have been gifted to Gift of Life Michigan.