August Takatsuka

On Aug. 31, 1920, George Takatsuka and Aya Taki Takatsuka welcomed their first son into the world. They affectionately called him Augie. He died June 21, 2007.

Living with the land was a life Augie learned from his parents, who started a strawberry farm on Vashon after arriving in 1911. He graduated from Vashon High School in 1938.

With the onset of World War II, many Japanese-Americans were relocated to internment camps. Riding a train, the Takatsuka family was relocated to Fresno, then to a camp at Tule Lake.

Leaving his family, Augie volunteered for the U.S. Army. He trained in Mississippi and was sent to serve in Italy.

Upon returning to Vashon in 1945, Augie added currants to his harvest and sold his fruit to local grocery stores and plants.

After the late 1990s, Augie retired from farming but continued to have Christmas trees and holly available for the community by leasing out his farmland to his friend, Karl Olsen.

Augie was preceded in death by his siblings, Harry, Miriam and George Takatsuka, Margaret Yamamoto and Rose Maekawa. He is survived by his partner Marie Davis and her family, and his younger sister, Kimiko Sakai of Bainbridge Island. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnephews, great- grandnieces and his wonderful family of friends.

Graveside services with full military honors will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 8, 2007, at the Vashon Island Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will take place immediately following the services at the Vashon Sportsmen’s Club.

Remembrances may be made to the Vashon Island Fire & Rescue, the Seattle Nisei Veterans or your favorite charity.