Lucille Masson (Masson) Kappeler

Lucille (Lu) M. Kappeler (Masson), 107, of Lampe, Missouri, passed away on Friday, November 21, 2025, from natural causes at the Countryside at Rock Springs in Harrison, Arkansas. She was born on March 5, 1918, in Chicago, Illinois, to Maxime Masson (d.1953) and Leontine (Hudon) Masson (d.1972). Lu was the youngest of 14 siblings (11 of whom were males). Marie (d.1954) was the oldest female with Lu being the youngest.

Lu was especially invested in her family with Blanch (d. at birth in 1891), Marie (d.1954),

Joseph, (d.1897), Oscar (d. 1985), Edgar (d.1975), Leon (d.1990), Lester (d.1907), William

(d.1905), Theodore (d.1995), Harold (d.1997), Henry (d.2006), Hubert (d.2006), and Lawrence

(d.2000).

Lu was married to Melvin Kappeler who died in 1985. They had four children:

Marianne Kitzman (d.2008), Bill Kappeler (b.1943), Laura Lenneville (b.1948), and Judy Bardy

(b.1954). She had 10 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.

At 107, Lu saw 2 global pandemics, 2 world wars, Korean War, Vietnam War and over 285 other

wars across the globe. She saw the Great Depression and 10 Global Recessions. She saw the

invention of traffic signals, modern zippers, jet airplanes, transistor radios, home computers,

black and white/color TVs, cell/smart phones, space travel, moon landings, the development of

the Internet, social media, microwaves and lasers. She was part of the major social movements

and its transformative legislation: Women’s Right to Vote, Social Security, Civil Rights Act, GI

Bill, Voting Rights Act, and many other pieces of social legislation. Nineteen US Presidents

served during her life. To say the very least, Lu had seen and was part of a lot during her 107

years on this earth.

Early on, Lu quit school to help her family with finances when she was about 16. She had the

job as a secretary because she had learned short-hand and typing. Of note, she would give her

mom her total paycheck to help with the family finances. Also, of interest, she took three

busses to work each day as a teen…in Chicago… in the winter. We think that she learned

“toughness” and “independence” during these formative years.

As she grew into adulthood, Lu enjoyed ceramics, crocheting, and crafts. She enjoyed playing

the organ, which she learned on her own. Music was a big part of her life. She would often play

the organ while her brother Hank would play the violin. Her favorite music was seasonal songs

and music from the 1940’s and 1950’s. Hosting her family over the holidays was also a huge part of her life and Thanksgiving was her most important and favorite holiday. Mel and Lu traveled to

various countries (Mexico was the 1st time that she flew on an airplane). Lu and Mel visited the

Caribbean and traveled around the US after the passing of her mother who had lived with them

for many years.

Besides raising her family and supporting her husband of nearly 46 years, she worked as a clerk,

and biller for Schneider National Transport starting in the 1952’s. She was a member of the

International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) #710 and drew her pension starting in 1976 (nearly 50 years).

She lived in Chicago from her birth until July 1976 (59 years) when she and Mel moved to Port

Rickey, Florida. They owned a home in Florida and then moved to live with Laura and Mark

Lenneville in Lampe, Missouri in 2010.

At Lu’s request, there will not be any local services. Always the pragmatist, she said many times,

“I’ve outlived everybody, so who would come, anyway?” Regardless, anyone who knew her, can

celebrate her life and her influence by raising a glass of Old Milwaukee or Schlitz in her honor

and remember this feisty, determined, and resilient lady we have called Memere’, mom and/or

friend. She will be missed, and her memory will remain a part of our own understanding of

ourselves and this world. May she find the peace and comfort that passes all understanding!

The family has offered an environmentally friendly option to honor her memory; you can also plant a tree in memory of Lucille Masson Kappeler.

Diamond State Cremation & Mortuary Service is handling the arrangements. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lucille Masson (Masson) Kappeler, please visit our floral store.