- Birth nameGunnar Eisten Kaasen
- Gunnar Kaasen was previously married to Anna Kaasen.
- SpouseAnna Kaasen(October 8, 1924 - November 26, 1960) (his death)
- Great-uncle of Janice Weiland and Jack Strege.
- Son of Hans Henrik Pederson Kaasen (1848-1939) and Anna Lovisa Oldsdatter Hoki Kaasen (1850-1933).
- Brother of Harald Ludvig Kaasen (1877-1930), Jon Emil Kaasen (1879-1972), Avle Ferdinand Kaasen (1880-1966), Olaf Hjalmar Kaasen (1884-1915), Sigurd Alfred Kaasen (1887-1985), Karl Johan Kaasen (1889-1972) and Trygve Hagbard Kaasen (1891-1979).
- Kaasen reached Port Safety ahead of schedule on February 2, at 2 AM Alaska Standard Time. Ed Rohn, the next musher in the relay, was sleeping, so Kaasen pressed on the remaining 25 miles (40 km) to Nome, reaching Front Street at 5:30 AM. Kaasen traveled a total of 54.3 miles (87 km).
- Like all mushers who participated, Kaasen was given a citation by the Governor of the Alaska Territory. All mushers also received a daily wage from a public fund of between USD $30 and $40. H. K. Mulford Company, which manufactured the antitoxin, awarded medals to all participants in the first relay.
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