Paul Masse passed from this earthly life on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minneosta. He is free from his struggles and pain.

Paul Philip Masse was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 21, 1963, to Philip and Virgene (Novascone) Masse. Several months after Paul’s birth, Paul’s father took a job at IBM and the family moved to Rochester, Minneosta.

Paul was a very bright child, quiet and kind. He was the second of four children, with an older brother, Michael, and two younger sisters, Joelle and Kathy. While growing up in Rochester, he helped at the family horse farm and stable. Paul was an outstanding student, qualifying as a National Merit Scholar when he graduated from Mayo High School. Paul studied a year at Carleton College in Northfield, Minneosta. He then attended Riverland College in Austin. Paul held down a job at K-Mart while attending Riverland, and was able to earn his associates degree with honors. Paul then attended St. Cloud State. He was a gifted athlete, with tennis as his main sport. Paul loved music and was an accomplished guitar player. His favorite groups were Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac, The Grateful Dead, and the Rolling Stones. Although Paul was quiet, he also had a great sense of humor and could be very entertaining.

Paul worked at Sieman’s in Atlanta, Georgia, a number of years. He also worked in maintenance for various inns in Vermont. He moved to Austin in 2005 and worked several years in maintenance at Sacred Heart Nursing Home and then at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

In spite of his many talents, Paul was not able to realize his dreams due to depression and addiction. But he lived his life with courage, and he worked hard to spare his family the suffering he was enduring. Paul had a special heart for the elderly and for the neediest among us. He was kind and caring as evidenced by many comments people have made to us.

Paul was preceded in death by his grandparents, Emmett and Eleanor Masse, Paul and Mayme Novascone; his mother, Virgene Zabarsky; his uncle, Ken Masse; and his step-sister, Ellen Fisch.

Missing Paul are his father, Philip Masse; step-mother, Millie Masse; brother Michael (South Carolina); sisters, Joelle Vanwier (Scott), Arizona, and Kathy Many (Brian), Virginia; step-brother, James Zinnel (Miranda); and step-sister Mary Ann Munro; beloved aunt Judy Masse-Kaffine; uncles Gary Masse, Florida, and Roger Masse, Oregon; cousins; and nieces and nephews.

A service will be held for Paul at a later date.