Horst Dieter Massingale was born September 20, 1953 and passed on August 2, 2019. Where to even begin? Horst was loved by family and many friends. He was one of a kind. A true biker, with a rough exterior and a heart of gold. He was born in Germany, he moved to America when he was 9 to live with his father's family after his mother died from polio. Being an army brat, he moved frequently as a child, often staying with one of his numerous aunts. He loved to say that he lived in twenty-two different houses in one town. He spent most of his childhood naming the hills and footpaths of Tennessee and Kentucky and he kept that nomadic spirit into his adulthood. At least until he met a certain long-legged redhead named Joyce, working in a bar in Florida in 1976. After he "stole" her from her family, the duo left Florida on her 20 ^th birthday. They hitchhiked to Indiana, where Joyce realized she never wanted to see that much snow again. That is when they moved to Houston, Texas where they spent a few years. When they realized they spent more time in the hill country than not, they decided to move to Johnson City, Texas in 1984. Here is where Horst met many friends that became like a family to him, and here is where his only child was born, at the age of 35. The nomad family had a home. He quickly made a name for himself in Johnson City as a handyman, carpenter, electrician, roofer, and mechanic. A jack-of-all- trades yet master of none. You'd be hard-pressed to find a house he hadn't worked on. Horst helped start a charity organization, the Hill Country Toy Run Association, to help put on the Pig Roast annually to raise money for Children in need. He became known as overseeing vendors for the roast and later joined the Johnson City Antique Engine and Tractor Club. Horst also received another name, Pawpaw. This one was his favorite. Before his grandson could even walk, he had spoiled him rotten. He did the same with his granddaughter.  Horst was happiest playing in the dirt with them, receiving rocks as gifts. Horst passed away peacefully in his home and was preceded in death by his wife of thirty-nine years, Joyce Harper, a woman Horst never stopped loving. He is survived by his daughter Valerie, son-in-law Danny, grandchildren, Victor Raphael and Elora Joyce, his sisters-in-law, Marlene and Darlene, niece Candace and her children and several "brothers" and good friends.

A memorial service honoring and celebrating Horst's life will be held at 6:00 PM, September 7, 2019 at the Blanco County Fairgrounds.