AUBURN — On Wednesday, June 20, Auburn lost a very special man, Takekazu Horie, 78, of Auburn. Affectionately known as Mr. Horie. Tak. Takey. Papa. Ojiichan.

You may have seen him in his boat on Lake Auburn or off Bailey’s Island, reeling in the biggest lake trout or striped bass.

You may have seen him at Dunkin Donuts, quietly enjoying a small coffee and an English muffin with good friends.

You may have seen him at Emerson Toyota, with hot coffee and munchkins, talking about cars and the last Red Sox game.

You may have seen him riding his lawn mower near Lake Shore Drive, driving his impeccable Toyota 4Runners, or spending wonderful summers with his children and grandchildren.

No matter where you may have met him, chances are your life was forever changed by this warm, loving, generous, honorable, and impossibly stubborn man named Takekazu Horie.

Born in Niihama, Japan, on April 8, 1934, Mr. Horie was the youngest of six children. From an early age, he flashed his many talents and charismatic personality in the schoolroom and on the dance floor where he learned the tango, rumba and waltz. He loved the ocean, and would often be seen scuba diving and spear fishing off the Japanese coast. After attending the University of Musashi in 1954, Takekazu owned and operated a successful wholesale business in Kuma before moving to Lewiston with his young family in 1971, and finding permanent residence in Auburn in 1977.

In his new town, Tak quickly made an impression when he appeared in the newspaper with family after catching a record-breaking 17-pound lake trout in Lake Auburn. While he would work for more than 25 years as a medical lab technician for his older brother, Tak’s greatest passions were always his family and the great outdoors. He was an avid fisherman, talented photographer and a lover of cars and motorcycles. Perhaps what he is most remembered for, however, is his wonderfully friendly personality and his incredible generosity to friends and family.

Takekazu is survived by his wife of 45 years, Motoko; his daughter and son-in-law, Ryuko and Michael Doscher, of Lawrenceville, Ga.; son and daughter-in-law, Takeyoshi and Kate Horie, of Lunenburg, Mass.; and two proud grandchildren, Takashi and Kiyomi Doscher. He also is survived by five older siblings, Sumiko Ishikawa, Kimiko Ooka, and Michiko Fukuda, all of Japan, Utako Horie of Queens, N.Y., and his brother and sister-in-law, Tsukasa and Nancy S. Horie, of Auburn. He also leaves behind seven nieces and nephews, Shizuta and Masaharu Ishikawa, Yoshihiro, Chieko and Nobuo Ooka, Ayumi Horie and Hideki Fukuda.

The family would like to express their highest thanks and gratitude to Tak’s dearest friends and to the community of Lewiston-Auburn. Over these many years, to all of the acquaintances who became friends, and the friends who became family, you have immeasurably enriched Takekazu’s life. Through your never-ending love and generosity, Lewiston-Auburn will forever remain his home.