Joseph Galen Horst, Sr.

Joseph Galen Horst Sr., 75, of Kennewick and formerly of La Grande, died Jan. 2. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Eagles Lodge in Kennewick.

Joe was born May 14, 1934, to John and Alma Horst in Grand Junction, Colo.

He was a private pilot and a flight instructor. He bought his first airplane at 17 and had a pilot's license before his driver's license.

He married Kathy Flanagan on May 27, 1960, and they had five children. They moved to Port Orchard where he leased a Time Oil Co. service station and began his own business, Joe's Foreign Car Service. A couple of years later he opened a small car dealership selling Simpcas and Fiats. He started stock car racing and a houseboat-building company called Galen Enterprises. He built 30- to 42-foot houseboats.

He loved racing, flying small airplanes, boating and playing in the water.

In the early '70s he moved to the Tri-Cities where he started several businesses. He married Debbie Smith on Sept. 26, 1975. They had three children and were married 24 years. Some of Joe's businesses included Tri-City Auto Electric, Tri-City Auto Repair, Clearwater Auto Parts, Tri-City Towing, Lawn and Garden Equipment Co., Mercedes Only and Galen Enterprises, a commercial contracting company. Some of these companies are still in business today.

Those who knew Joe say he took in several people from halfway houses, gave some jobs and helped some just transition back into society.

Joe raised his granddaughter, Jocelyn Schaben, as his own daughter. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Kennewick.

He is survived by his sister, Verna Pettit of Olympia, Wash.; a brother, David Horst of Springfield, Mo.; and children, Joe Horst Jr., Melanie (Jeff) Ossman, Connie O'Donnell, Gary (Tellu) Horst, Steven Horst, Jolee Schaben, Jennifer (Harry) Bayless, Ryan (Penny) Horst; 18 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents and an older brother, John (Marvin) Horst.

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