Richard J. Massieon, 65, of Seneca, KS, died late Sunday evening, March 25, 2012 at his home, with his wife at his side.

Richard was born southwest of Wamego, KS on November 18, 1946, the son of Robert L. and Patricia L. White Massieon. He was raised on a farm in the Laclede community northeast of Wamego. Rich was active in 4-H for eight years. He graduated from Wamego High School in 1964, where his honors and activities were salutatorian, National Honor Society, Class President, President of the Student Council, and First Team All State Football (all school sizes).

Rich then attended Kansas State University, where he played NCAA Division I football for the K-State Wildcats and was a varsity football letterman as an offensive lineman. His coach at K-State was the legendary Vince Gibson. His other activities and honors at K-State were Honorable Mention All Big 8 Academic Team, Vice President of the senior class, R.O.T.C. Arnold Air Society, commissioned Air Force 2nd Lieutenant, and runner-up KSU Favorite Man on Campus. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity serving as an officer, and was also his fraternity’s charter representative to the National Leadership Conference. He graduated from K-State in 1968 with a B.A. degree in Pre-Law.

Rich then went on to law school at the University of Kansas, where he graduated with a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1971. While at KU he was a member of Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity and received a Third Year Law School Scholar Award.

Rich’s personal career was launched as a research law clerk for Kansas Supreme Court Justice Roger Kaul (1971 – 1972). Rich moved to Seneca in 1972 and opened Massieon Law Office and was elected for two terms as the Nemaha County Attorney. He served 29 years as Seneca City Attorney and four years as Onaga City Attorney. He was a member of the Kansas Bar Association and at various times served as President of the Nemaha County Bar Association, Treasurer of the Northeast Kansas Bar Association and was on the 22nd Judicial Bar Bench Committee.

Rich was very civic minded and he loved Seneca. He was active as a former member and past president of the Seneca Jaycees, member and past president of the Seneca Chamber of Commerce, member and past president of the Seneca Rotary Club, Area Chairman of Seneca Ducks Unlimited (26 years), District Director of Ducks Unlimited (four years) and District Director of the Kansas Muzzle Loading Association (four years).

Rich also coached boys baseball, Little League through Legion levels, for 15 years, and Junior High football for six years.

He was the Assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 71 (five years), with honors and activities including Order of the Arrow, Graduate of Timber Tag and the Wood Badge in 1987, District Eagle Advancement Chairman (six years) and the Silver Beaver Award in 1996.

He served on various civic and professional committees, including the Seneca Economic Development Committee, the Seneca Doctor Procurement Committee and the Kansas University Medical School Admissions Panel (six years).

He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus Council #1769, and American Legion Post #21, all in Seneca, the Kansas State University Golden Cat Club and the Nemaha County Historical Society (life member).

His hobbies were hunting, fishing, camping, the Blackpowder Rendezvous Historical Fur Trade Re-enactment, as well as many improvement projects for wildlife habitat on his farm near Goff. Rich enjoyed retreating to his farm where he could enjoy the wide open space for hours.

He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Patricia Massieon.

He was married to Carol A. Noble; the couple had three children together. They later divorced.

Rich married Mary Lee Pryde on December 21, 2007, in Seneca.

He is survived by his wife Mary of the home in Seneca; two sons, Andy (Jennifer) Massieon of Lenexa and Mark (Lynn) Massieon of Kansas City, MO; a daughter, Mary (Brian) Blachly of Olathe; a brother, Robert Massieon of Wamego; a sister, Jacqueline Winter of Scottsdale, AZ; and five grandchildren, Andrew (Drew) Massieon, Sophia Massieon, Cameron Massieon, Niah Blachly and Athan Blachly.

He is also survived by two step-children, Nicholas (Debbie) A. Roybal of St. Joseph, MO and Angelina R. M. (Rudy) Romero of Santa Fe, NM; and three step-grandchildren, Dawnica Roybal, DeAnna Roybal and Ivan Ray Romero.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Thursday, March 29, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Friday, March 30, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. The family will have a private burial at a later date.

A memorial fund in Rich’s memory is to be determined later; contributions should be sent in care of the family.