In Memory of Paul Yasutake

Seonghwa

Jan 25

Written By Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Paul Yasutake

Spouse: Gertrud Yasutake
Children: Christoph, Tim, Toby, Peter
Birthdate: April 19, 1947
Blessing: February 8, 1975
Ascension: January 19, 2024
Seonghwa Ceremony: January 27, 2024

Paul Yasutake was born in Honolulu as the youngest of 6 siblings. His grandfather came from Japan to Hawaii as a carpenter, and his parents were born in Hawaii, making Paul a “sansei,” or 3rd generation Japanese in Hawaii. When he was 9, the whole family moved to Los Angeles where he finished high school.

Paul joined the army from 1966 to 1969, but was not drafted for the Vietnam War. Instead, God sent him into the heavenly battle of waking up America—in 1970, he joined the Unification Movement while going to college. He was soon immersed into all the activities of those days: One World Crusade, training seminars, leading a center in NYC, workshop staff at Barrytown, and graduating as part of the Unification Theological Seminary’s first class. In 1975, Paul and his wife, Gertrud, participated in the 1800 couples’ Blessing in Korea.

His busy life continued, first as State Leader of Connecticut then New Hampshire. As leader of an International One World Crusade team (IOWC) he then travelled from New England down to the south, becoming State Leader of Florida. As the Top Gun providence was put together under the American Constitution Committee (ACC), Dr. Park sent him to his beloved Hawaii to do political work and bring public leaders to conferences. In Hawaii, Paul started his career as a realtor.

By the time he volunteered for work as National Messiah to Bosnia, the Yasutake family had grown to include their four boys, Christoph, Tim, Toby, and Peter. In December 1996, they packed up everything and moved to Europe—Paul to Bosnia and Gertrud and the children to Germany. The Bosnian war had just ended, with ruins visible and the country still having more landmines than people in its borders.

The chance to return to America came in the fall of 1998, as New Eden High School needed staff and dorm parents. So, the Yasutake family moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut. Since then, Paul has been a member of the Bridgeport church community, doing American Family Coalition (AFC) work, organizing the Brothers of Bridgeport, and establishing himself as an experienced realtor.

In his later years, Paul had to pay close attention to his inherited diabetes. Ailments of the heart crept in, which the doctors tried to address with a triple bypass in 2015. His heart finally gave out in the evening of January 19, after a few bites of sushi and some sips of his favorite hot tea.

His lineage continues with his son Christoph, his spouse, Lena, children Telani, Kohan, and Zizi; with his son Tim, his spouse, Rosi, children Ben and Alanna; his son Toby, his spouse, Anna, children Taavi, Zaavi, and Thea; and his son Peter, his spouse, Mo, and baby Niko.

Gertrud envisions all Paul’s wonderful friends and loved ones sending him off simultaneously from different points of the globe, from Hawaii to Bosnia, from Germany to Brazil. If you are not able to join in person in Bridgeport on January 27 at 11:00 EDT, please send a paper boat down a stream, pop some balloons or let them fly, spark some firecrackers or raise a glass, light a candle or climb a hill and give Paul a yodel and shout-out. Let’s make Saturday a good day for lift-off!