In Remembrance

Derek Tyler “Overcoming Resilient Beast” Rasmussen, 31, from the “North side” of Superior,
WI, died in a single-vehicle accident on September 1, 2024, in Douglas County. He was born on
May 28, 1993, to Trace Topping and Donald Rasmussen Jr. Derek was a member of Red Cliff
Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
Derek attended Superior schools and was a proud graduate of WI National Guard Challenge
Academy Class 26 (2011). He previously worked for Cirrus and Super One. At the time of his
passing, he was employed by Pomp’s Tire Service. He enjoyed helping elders with odd jobs, like
lawnmowing, and was always just a phone call away.
Derek lived with schizoaffective disorder which led to adverse coping mechanisms, like
substance use. According to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five adults live
with a mental illness and one in 1,000 people experience this chronic mental illness. Addiction
wasn’t his problem; it was the solution to his problems. Those who loved him supported him
through his struggles and inevitable big comebacks. We felt that he was getting better at
managing this devastating illness. While mental illness and substance use may not be the cause
his death, they definitely played a role in his choices towards the end of his life. The family urges
others to talk openly about mental health and seek support.
Derek had a deep faith in God and assigned meaning to everything. He lived and worked hard
and fast. We will always remember Derek’s quirkiness and sense of humor and ability to make
people laugh. We will mostly miss the noises he made and silly phrases and names he came up
with when he was verbally stimming. He always loved pets, especially his dog and kitty girls,
who keep waiting for him to come home. Derek was intentional in his actions and the people he
connected with. In his last days, he connected to many of the people who loved him. He died
knowing that we were rooting for him and that he was loved deeply.
Derek is already missed by many including his parent, Trace Topping; “Big Brother Bear 2”
Daryl Ziebell (“Swassy” Cassie Yonkin); children, Shaylee “Bocky” (Brittany Lonetto) and
Dezmond “Dez” (Ceaira DeBeir); “Other Mama” Jane Sayler; “Pops” John Kempf; partner,
“Wifey” Desirae Loukes and her son Jayden; grandma, “Gramala Pamela” McGraw; sister,
Megan “Goot” Livingston; niblings, Devon, Daniel, Skylee, Summer, Aubree, Caleb and
Keegan; special uncle; Lt. Col. Bill Barthen; aunt, Vicky (Jon) Zak; uncle Jay (Liz) Brittan; dog,
Scarlet; kitty girls, Tally and Elcee; special cousin, Corey Gayken; cousins and great aunts; and
the Rasmussen family from Chippewa County, WI.
He was preceded in death by grandpa, Fred Koch; aunt, Sue Brittan; and honorary aunt, Missy
Gayken.
A memorial service will take place at United Presbyterian Church (UPC), 229 N 28th St E,
Superior, WI on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m., followed by
service at 11 a.m., with Rev. Brett Foote officiating. Interment will follow at the Memorial
Garden in Greenwood Cemetery. Potluck luncheon at UPC following burial. Derek’s memorial
service will also be streamed live on the church’s YouTube page
https://www.youtube.com/@unitedpresbyterianchurchsu6414.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be sent to National Alliance on Mental Illness Lake
Superior South Shore (NAMI LSSS). https://www.namilsss.org/.