Marvin Joseph "Joe" Masten

Marvin Joseph “Joe” Masten, 85, of Lexington, Nebraska, passed away Friday, September 18, 2015, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Joe was born in Walthill, Nebraska, on December 21, 1929, to Marvin Joseph and Louise Marie (Pollet) Masten. He was the youngest of eight children, including three brothers and four sisters. He graduated from Walthill High School in 1948, and worked in Sioux City, Iowa at a packing plant before joining the Navy, serving from 1951 to 1955. He was a flight captain on various air craft carriers during the Korean Conflict. Following his service in the Navy, he received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Wayne State College. During his teaching/administrative career, he received his Sixth-Year Degree from the University of Nebraska -Lincoln. He married Ella Marie Miller in December 31, 1956. This union was blessed with four children, Marvin Joseph, Jean Marie, and twins Ronald Larry and Donald Gary. Joe began his teaching career in Cedar Rapids; was principal in Rosalie, and Superintendent of Schools in Woodlake, Orchard, and Winside, all in Nebraska. In the summer of 1971, Joe satisfied a life-long dream and built Masten’s Camper Haven in Lexington, Nebraska. He also taught at Morton Elementary School until his retirement in 1990. He served in multiple capacities in his church, was co-director with his wife Ella, for the Nebraska Kids Kamp at the Assembly of God Campgrounds in Lexington, and served as president of the private campground association. At the time of his death, he was assisting his sons in raising funds for Nebraska Light for the Lost (LFTL), which assists missionaries in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to many nations around the world. His interests included antique cars, Nebraska Cornhuskers, hunting, fishing, teaching, coaching volleyball, and his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Ella, children Jean (Mike Holbrook), Ron (Cindy Brummet) Masten, Don (Debra Philson) Masten, and daughter –in-law Tammy (Plessel) Masten; nine grandchildren: Jessica (Patrick) Morrison, Nathan (Alisha) Masten, Andrew (Savannah) Masten, Annah (Joshua) Geyer, Joshua Masten, Laurin (Lucas) Zieman, Emily Masten, Ben Masten & Ashley (Selvin) Salinas; eight great-grandchildren: Meghan and Adeline Morrison, Kadence, Lydia, Cam, Chandy and Taytem Masten & Sophia Salinas; one brother; Henry “Spike” (Barbara) Masten; one sister-in-law: Lucile Masten, and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Joe; two brothers Roy and Francis “Speed” Masten; and four sisters, Eva Cornwell, Freda Masten, Ruth Dunn, and Ann Flicker. Celebration of Life Service will be held Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Calvary Assembly of God Church in Lexington, Nebraska with Pastor Gene Arnold & Pastor Rex Adams, officiating. There will be no visitation. Private family burial will be held at Robb Cemetery prior to service. Memorials are suggested to any LFTL ministry of your choice. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com