Leonard "Lenny" Massa, age 91 of Maryville, IL, born November 30, 1933 in Madison, IL, passed away at his home on Friday, February 7, 2025.

Leonard was a 1951 Collinsville High School graduate and received a Business Degree from SIU-Carbondale in 1955. A Korean War Veteran, Leonard served from 1956 to 1958 in the Army and was honorably discharged in 1962. He retired from Ameren Illinois. He married the love of his life, Joan (Chapman) Massa on July 14, 1956 and died on what would have been her 91st birthday.

An avid outdoorsman, Lenny loved fishing and hunting. He was a founding member of the Dover Boys and loved nothing better than fishing with friends and family. Baseball, soccer and basketball were a huge part of Len's life. He served on the Collinsville Khoury League Board, volunteered with the Collinsville Soccer Association and coached his sons in both baseball and soccer. With 4 sons, many years were spent on the sidelines and in the backyard helping to fine tune their skills. One of his proudest moments was when his 3 oldest sons were on the field together during a Collinsville High School Soccer game. Len played on an exhibition baseball team in the Army and had the opportunity to play against a St. Louis Cardinals team visiting the troops. He declined, as he did not want to stay in Korea for an extra 3 weeks. He was also part of the group that started the Collinsville Italian Fest.

Lenny enjoyed all the simple pleasures of life -- gardening, cutting grass, playing pinochle, bird watching, a cheap cigar and sharing a beer or two with friends, family and neighbors. He and Joan loved treating their Saddlewood Drive neighbor kiddos to popsicles and cookies when they would stop by. Above all, he adored his family, especially his grandchildren, taking immense pleasure and pride in all of their accomplishments both large and small. Family was everything to Leonard. As the next generation arrived, he was present for all their important and small events, spending another 20+ years on the sidelines in the bleachers and on the road visiting his out-of-town family.

Leonard was preceded in death by his wife, Joan (Chapman) Massa; his parents Joseph and Martha (Oram) Massa; brothers James Massa and Ronald "Tony" Massa and his sister-in-law, Geraldine Massa.

He is survived by his six children:  Lynn (Alan) Kerkemeyer of Maryville, IL, Lisa (Pat) MacMillan of Greenbrier, AR,  Michael (Vicki) Massa of Gallatin, TN, Mark (Diane) Massa of Collinsville, IL, Matt (Pam) Massa of Troy, IL and Eric (Kim) Massa of Tifton, GA; 17 beautiful and talented grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; a sister, Martha Massa, and sister-in-laws Jodi (Tony) Massa and  Shelby (James) Chapman, and many nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be 9 to 10:30 a.m. on February 21, 2025 at Barry Wilson Funeral Home in Maryville.

A Funeral Mass will follow, at 11 a.m. on Friday at Mother of Perpetual Help Church in Maryville, IL, officiated by Father Rob Johnson, with burial at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery. A luncheon will immediately follow the service at Mother of Perpetual Help Parish Center, 200 North Lange, Maryville, IL.

Memorials are suggested to the Mother of Perpetual Help Church. They will be received at the visitation or can be mailed to Barry Wilson Funeral Home, 2800 N. Center Street, Maryville, IL 62062