Gary George Rustad, former associate executive secretary, human resource director, and Adventist Volunteer Services coordinator for the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, passed away February 13, 2021, at the age of 76. His attitude toward work, the positivity he created in the workplace, and the confidence he placed in God’s hands were just a few of the many attributes for which Gary is well remembered.
Gary Rustad was born on December 3, 1944, to George and Rosella Rustad in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. At an early age, Gary exemplified signs of becoming a musically inclined missionary as he joined bands and choir in his early years. He was baptized at age 12 on April 12, 1957, in the Madison Campus Church in Wisconsin, United States. His interest in becoming a minister was further developed at Sandia View Academy in New Mexico, United States, where he finished secondary school in 1963. He took his bachelor’s degree in religion/theology at Southwestern Junior College in Keene, Texas. He also studied at Southwestern Union College (now Southwestern Adventist University) and graduated in 1973.
Gary was blessed with an entire family of passionate missionaries. Gary was married to Margaret Pierce on August 3, 1975, and they were gifted with three missionary-minded children; Gary Bryan, Margaret Charise, and Tiffany Rose. Gary Bryan is currently serving as the president of the Georgia-Cumberland Conference (U.S.). Gary’s wife passed away in 2014 and he remarried Fairra Rustad.
Gary’s ministry started in the Texico Conference, serving the U.S. territory of West Texas and New Mexico, where he became the conference’s singing evangelist. He served in this role from 1965 to 1969. Gary was well-known for his talent in music; he played the piano, clarinet, and bass fiddle. His ministry as a pastor continued in various U.S. conferences from 1970 to 1993, including Texico, Oregon, and Kentucky-Tennessee.
Gary’s dedication to the work and his passion for the ministry led him to become a mission appointee for the North American Division in 1993. He was then assigned to pastor the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital from 1993 to 2001 before accepting a transfer call to the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, where he served from 2001 until 2011.
Friends And Former Colleagues Remember Gary
“I will always remember Pastor Gary’s distinct smile. He always had some kind of humor to share. His email when my dad passed away in 2002 was a needed encouragement during that time of deep pain. Although I was always in tears during the afternoons for the next several months, his wife Margaret, who was seated across from my workstation, would say ‘just let the tears flow,’” shares Dr. Daryl Gay Tanamal, associate treasurer of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division.
“Both Gary & Margaret have left lasting, beautiful memories! I will miss seeing them both again on this earth but looking forward to that reunion day in the earth made new!” adds Tanamal.
In a corporate email sharing information about Gary’s death, his successor, Pastor Kevin Costello, describes Gary as a deeply compassionate colleague.
“Those of us who served with Pastor Gary will deeply miss his warm, contagious smile, his constant optimism, and his ability to jam on the piano, as well as his inspiring devotional talks,” Costello wrote.
Pastor Rustad passed away on the evening of February 13, 2021, in Southern California, due to complications of his Parkinson’s Disease.
