Daniel John Masson

April 21, 1929 - February 20, 2020

Dr. Daniel John Masson, age 90, of Tucson, Arizona, died Thursday, February 20, 2020, at the Tucson Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home with Fr. Bernie Weir officiating. Calling hours will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2020 at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home in Washington where the family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Friday evening. Interment with military honors will be held at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa. Memorials have been established for the American Heart Association. Online condolences may be sent for Daniel’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com Daniel was born April 21, 1929, in Washington, Iowa, the son of Daniel Victor and Marcella Virginia (Zdarsky) Masson. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering in 1956 and received his Doctorate of Philosophy in Industrial Engineering from Minerva University. Dan was married to Grace Evelyn (Garner) Masson on May 8, 1960. He later married Lavina Eagle on August 17, 1982, in Titusville, Florida. He served in the Army Corp. of Engineers as a 1st Lieutenant during the Korean War. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star; the United Nations Service Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal. He served as Reserve Commissioned Officer of the Army and honorably discharged in 1963. After the war he returned to the University of Iowa to complete his education in mechanical engineering. He worked as a Mechanical Engineer for Trane HVAC in Lacrosse, Wisconsin from 1960-1962, Sandia National Laboratory in Livermore, California from 1962-1964, Atomic Energy Commission in Macon, Georgia from 1964-1967, then transferring to NASA at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the Apollo Program in 1967. He worked at NASA for twenty eight years retiring in 1995. His tenure with NASA spanned the space flight programs from Apollo, Skylab, Apollo Soyuz Test Project (ASTP), and into the Shuttle era. He was part of the team that designed the deluge system for the Saturn 5 and Space Shuttle mobile launchers. Daniel was a major contributor to the mission of the Kennedy Space Center in the areas of corrosion control and refurbishment projects at the launch pads as well as the processing of Shuttle vehicles. Following his retirement, Dan and Lavina moved to Green Valley, Arizona. While in Florida, Dan and Lavina made many beautiful quilts, some of which were gifted to several members of the family. They enjoyed going on cruises around many parts of the world especially the Bahamas, Alaska and South America, playing cards with friends and brief trips to neighboring casinos. He enjoyed annual summer trips back to Iowa for family reunions and visiting family around the country. He was an active member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Green Valley. Dan is survived by his son, John J. Masson of Colchester, Vermont and wife Debra M. Masson and their two sons Brian and Seth; daughter, Amy Robinett of Nashville, Tennessee and her son Nathan, and daughter Abigail; son Daniel B. Masson of Tampa, Florida; step children: Barbara (David) Kemery, Sandra (Harmon) Harris, Bill Mellecker, Bob Mellecker, Dennis (Paulette) Mellecker and Mary (Fred) Muzer; and numerous Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Jean Cordry; his wife, Lavina in 2011; and his step-daughter, Carolyn Cool in 2019.