Idaho icon to be laid to
rest on Veteran's Day
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November 10, 2011 |
 Idaho
Governor Butch Otter will be among many
attending the funeral service of Idaho State
Representative Patrick Takasugi, who served his
state for 10 years under three governors as
director of the Idaho Department of Agriculture
before being elected twice to represent Idaho's
District 10A.
Takasugi, a third-generation farmer from Wilder,
died November 6, three years after being
diagnosed with appendix cancer. He was 62. He
died surrounded by his wife, Suzanne, their
three children and many others of his family and
circle of friends.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday,
November 11, at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic
Church, Caldwell, with internment to follow at
Wilder Cemetery. A dinner at the church will
follow the internment.
Pat was born June 9, 1949, in Brigham City,
Utah, and he grew up on the family farm in
Wilder then operated by his father, Michio. He
graduated from Vallivue High School and went on
to study at the College of Idaho, where he
earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political
science.
After graduating, he volunteered to serve in the
U.S. Army, earning his Airborne wings, Ranger
Tab and his special forces tab, wearing the
distinguished green beret of the Army Special
Forces, where he served as an intelligence
officer, rising to the rank of captain before
his honorable discharge and return to Idaho and
his first love, farming.
He started out on 32-acres in Wilder and grew
his operation to over 1,500 acres. Along the
way, he not only farmed, but served farmers,
taking on many roles with the Farm Bureau, both
local and national, and serving in farming
organizations including the Food Producers of
Idaho, the University of Idhao Agricultural
Consulting Council and the National Council of
Agricultural Employers.
In 1996, Idaho Governor Phil Batt appointed
Patrick director of the State of Idaho
Department of Agriculture, a position he
accepted on condition he could keep farming. He
served on the National Association of State
Departments of Agriculture, including as a
member of the board of directors and as
president.
He traveled the world as a representative of
Idaho agriculture.
In 2008, he was elected State Representative in
District 10, Seat A.
With his wife, Suzanne, whom he married late in
life, having taken the time to find his true
soul-mate, he instilled his sterling values in
their children, Taylor, 17, Cole, 16, and Paige,
13, telling them, "no matter what you do in
life, whatever job you have, always, always,
always make sure you can do it to leave it a
better place than you found it."
And, according to all who knew him, he instilled
that advice admirably by his own example.
He is survived by his wife and children, his
parents, Michio and Ayako Takasugi, his little
sister, Colleen Iwano and brother-in-law Andy
Iwano, nephew David Iwano, sisters-in-law Laurie
Backesand Kathy Backes and brother-in-law
Alan Backes. The family extends great thanks to
his doctor, Dan Zuckerman, and the staff at MSTI
Boise, and to his farm managers and friends of
30 years, Raul Luna and Leo Sandoval.
"Representative Takasugi gave selflessly of his
time, energy and resources in service to the
people of Canyon County and all of Idaho. He was
an icon of the agriculture community and a dear
friend,"Governor Otter said. "Lori and I extend
our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to his
wife Suzanne and their family, friends and
constituents." |
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