Leonard "Bucky" Massee

Leonard "Bucky" Massee, age 89, of Appleton, passed away Thursday evening March 31, 2022, in Appleton Area Health -Care Center.  Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Thursday, April 7, 2022, at Zniewski Funeral Home-Vaala Chapel in Appleton.  Visitation will resume from 10-11 a.m., followed by the funeral at 11 a.m., Friday, April 8, 2022, at First United Methodist Church in Appleton.  Jan Eifealdt will officiate.  Burial will be in Appleton City Cemetery.

Leonard Ellsworth Massee was born November 6, 1932, in Appleton, MN, the son of John “Jack” George and Josephine “Jo” Johnson Massee. He attended Appleton High School where he graduated Class of 1950.  On June 6, 1954, he was united in marriage to Lois Jean Sylvester at Glenwood Lutheran Church. They were blessed with three children: Brent (Class of 73), Jim (Class of 76) and Louise (Class of 1980).  They lived in Appleton where Bucky worked at Farmers & Merchants State Bank. He started at the bank as a teller.  Bucky and his partners, Bob Pederson and Ralph Schmidt bought the bank from Art and Alice Arntzen in 1969.   He moved up through the ranks until he became President of the bank in 1984. Ralph and Buck sold the bank to their sons in 1995.  The business continues as a home-owned family bank today.

Bucky was active in the community: he served as treasurer of the United Methodist Church for 30 years, was a member of the Golf Course Board, was a member of the Appleton Chamber of Commerce for the entirety of his working career.  Buck was Chairman of the Board of the Appleton Hospital in the 1970’s and worked hard on the expansion project.  He was a charter member of the Appleton Lions Club, was a member of the Masons for 60 years, and became a Shriner. One of the activities that bought Bucky great joy was chaperoning elementary students on their yearly trip to the Shrine circus.  Bucky helped his friend Pete Martinson establish the Martinson Foundation in 1983, to financially support projects that benefited the Appleton area.  To date, the Martinson Foundation has given over $1.5 million. Serving on this foundation was one of the activities that brought Buck the most satisfaction.

Bucky cherished his roots in Appleton and continued to support the preservation of Appleton’s history.  He would talk Appleton history with anyone willing to listen.  His grandchildren still can’t believe he jumped off the trestle bridge at the old swimming hole.

The businessmen of the Appleton community who mentored Buck:  Dave Miller, Ted Gill, the Doege brothers and Art Arntzen, greatly influenced him and he treasured those relationships throughout his life.  Bucky lost the love of his life, Lois, early to leukemia.  He continued to demonstrate his love for her through his support of the arts, the Lois Massee music scholarship, and donations to the Mayo Foundation.

He is survived by his children, Brent (Andrea) Massee, Jim (Sydney) Massee and Louise (Tim) Davis.  His grandchildren, Bretney (Zach) Karsjens, Andrew (Grace) Massee, Christina Massee, Edward (Whitney) Massee, Jack Massee, Janine (Zach) Staples, Laura (Nate) Dahlke, and Jeff (Maria) Davis.  His great grandchildren, Norah and Alyvia Karsjens, Otis and Sigrid Massee, Bennett and Jennings Massee, Hadley, Ingrid and Evan Staples, Grant, Rhett and Ainsley Dahlke and Abby Davis. Also, his sister-in-law Rita Massee, his brother-in-law Howard (Terry) Sylvester and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; his brother, Robert; his father, Jack; and his mother Jo.