ST. JOSEPH – Michael William “Bill” Massengale, 66, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer.
He was born October 28, 1947 in Graham, Mo., son of Pauline Ruth and Johnnie Massengale. He graduated from Nodaway/Holt high school and joined the Navy serving two tours of duty during the Vietnam era. He served in the Traffic Department of the St. Joseph Police Department and joined the Missouri Air National Guard 139th Airlift Wing.
While in the Air Guard he was the First NCO to receive the Col. John B. Logan Award. He also served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990-91. He retired as a Master Sergeant from the Guard in 2002. He worked part-time as a driver for the Medicine Center and retired in 2008. He was a member of the VFW, Wesley United Methodist Church, and Missouri Air National Guard Retiree Association. He also served as a scout leader for Boy Scout Troop 215.
He loved to travel with his wife, reading and fishing with his children and grandchildren. He married Terry McKay in 1990 and they shared 23 years together she survives of the home. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law, Donald Gray; and son-in-law, Dillard Marshoff.
Survivors include, his wife, Terry Massengale of the home; son, Michael (Zoe) Massengale of Riverview, Fla.; daughter, Yvette Marshoff of St. Joseph; step-daughters, Laura Smedley, and Cheryl Johnson; step-son, Michael Johnson of St. Joseph; 11 grandchildren Bryon and Calen Wilcoxson, Amber Massengale, Amanda Smedley (William Unzicker), Joshua Massey, Amber and Katie Johnson, Emma Green, Makenize, Isabella and Samantha Massengale; great-grandsons, Brayden, and Kamdyn; sisters, Kay Dolph and Eleanor Gray of Savannah, Mo.; brothers-in-laws Eugene (Annette) McKay, St. Joseph and John (Karen) McKay, Easton, Mo.; several cousins; nieces; nephew; and a host of friends.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at the Rupp Funeral Home. Memorial services will be conducted at 10 a.m., Wednesday, January 8, at the Rupp Chapel. Interment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery Graham. Military Honors under the direction of the Missouri Air National Guard 139th Airlift Wing. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family request they be made to the Wesley United Methodist Church or the Hands of Hope Hospice.