In 1953, at the age of 19, Horst escaped from East Germany, with his younger brother, Herman, shortly after their older brother, Carl, came to America.

Three felony and two misdemeanor charges were filed March 6 [2009] in Lafayette County Circuit Court against Haley Andrews, 24, Darlington, the driver involved in the Thanksgiving morning traffic accident on Galena Street at the bridge in Darlington that claimed the life of 74-year-old Horst Haenert, Scales Mound, Ill.