Our hearts completely broke on Saturday, August 22, 2026, as Adam James Massman passed
away at the young age of 17.
He was born on June 17, 2009 – 2 weeks overdue and already determined to do life how he
planned. Strong and spirited, yet quiet by nature, Adam was an amazing young man from the
first day we met him.
Adam could be a young man of few words and many words all at the same time. Whether he
was sitting back and taking things in with a sly smile and a quiet silly comment, or getting a little
more lively telling funny stories and roughhousing with his brother – he was always connecting
with someone around him. Adam had a knack for taking a simple account of something that
happened and making it into a humorous, laugh-out-loud story.
He worked hard at school and was looking forward to beginning his senior year. We grieve we
won’t get to celebrate his high school graduation with him, but we were blessed to celebrate an
incredible accomplishment already – Adam graduated from CVTC during his junior year through
a program he completed via Lincoln High School.
Adam wasn’t one to sit still. Whether it was heading out to work with his animals, going shining
with the boys, hopping in a truck to go fit animals with friends, hanging out in a hot tub with
some pals, or hitting the road to a cattle show, fair, or other event – Adam thrived on his time
with others. He had a special energy that made it easy for him to connect with people wherever
he went.
Playing sports with his friends was one of his favorite things – throwing touchdown passes,
landing strikes, running in relays… you name it, he was there. The friendships he made in all
aspects of his life were incredibly important to him. “The boys” especially held a dear spot in his
heart.
The big-brother card was one he played often, being a little bossy and slightly demanding with
his brother, Brett. But in recent years their bond grew as their common interests in cattle, golf,
and playing sports brought them closer. They spent more time together playing, working, and
talking smart with one another – becoming friends and not just brothers.
They picked up golf this summer and, together, bought hundreds of golf balls that were only to
be swallowed up by the woods; Adam could drive that ball hundreds of yards. Those golf balls –
and the memories that came with them – will forever be part of their story.
The passion he had for our family beef herd was inspiring. The success he found in the show
ring came with a lot of maturity, hard work, and a commitment to excellence over the years.
Winning the Bred and Owned (homegrown) Beef Steer at the Wisconsin State Fair in 2025 was
such a prideful moment for our family to share as Adam showed Kolt like a pro. Numerous
banners, ribbons, and belt buckles filled up his walls from countless fairs and jackpot shows. We
absolutely loved watching Adam take control in the ring, wearing his starched jeans, a sharp
shirt, and, of course, cowboy hat and boots.
These shows were never just a family affair. I always marveled at the “entourage” of people who
would come together as Adam meticulously fit his animals, taking (most of the time) advice from
more seasoned experts as he continued to hone his skills and strategically create the “perfect”
show animal. As we would walk to the ring, you could often find a dozen people alongside him –
helping, providing last minute tweaks (Clayton), and ready to cheer him on.
Our cattle community is one of a kind, full of special, kind, hardworking, kindred spirits. These
people became such an important part of Adam’s world, and we feel incredibly blessed for every
person who invested in him, taught him, encouraged him, challenged him, and especially
celebrated alongside him.
How we’ll miss these treasured interactions, these show days, and the incredible community
that surrounded our boy.
Adam loved talking bulls, cows, calves, and future farm plans with his dad. Over these past few
years together, they started shaping the future of Massman Cattle. Always conspiring with
Clayton, bargaining to get things just how he wanted them, or even designing our new logo,
Adam was on a fast track to filling his life with the people and things he loved. He maybe didn’t
outwardly share his ‘plans after high school’, but he knew exactly what he wanted his life to look
like. He was quietly, confidently building toward it – and we loved watching him do it.
He was a cattle showman, an athlete, a truck enthusiast, a barber… truly Adam could be
whatever he set his mind to. He had a remarkable ability to figure out how to get things to work
out his way – he had the perfect combination of luck and talent.
But Adam also worked hard to get good at the things he loved; even through adversity and
challenges – our boy kept going.
The pride, joy, and indescribable love I feel for Adam as my firstborn will always remain. But of
course there were days he drove me a little crazy – “Mom, have you seen my Airpods?”, (for the
millionth time), or the countless reminders to put something away or to do something… but
those were reminders of the blessing of being a mom.
I am, and will always be, his biggest supporter. I would travel to the ends of the earth to cheer
on and support my kids, and I wouldn’t trade the long drives to Louisville or Grand Island to
watch him show for anything. Adam’s games could be hours away and I was always ready to
make the road trip to cheer him and his team on. There was no other place I would want to be.
I will always cherish our trips together – to Arkansas to dig for diamonds, an afternoon in Texas
for dinner and a movie, a flight to Phoenix with a Segway tour around the racetrack, the long
drive out west to Yellowstone, the Badlands, and Montana to dig for crystals.
We had so many adventures exploring nature – the mountains of Vermont, waterfalls and
skipping rocks on the North Shore, and even making it through two harrowing tornado threats.
Our trip to sunny Cancun while there was an epic snowstorm at home was well-timed, although
we still felt a little sense of missing out… because while we loved our adventures, there is never
any place like home.
“Home is where the heart is” isn’t a cliche statement, it’s the honest truth.
Our home will never be the same. Our hearts are here but they are broken. We’ll remember
Adam and love him, but our hearts will ache because he’s not here. And yet, somehow, our
hearts will also remain full because we did have him for 17 wonderful and perfect years.
With these heavy, heavy hearts, we send him off to heaven. We look forward to the day we can
reunite together again – and with faith in Jesus, we will.
Adam is survived by his parents, Brian and Brianne, and his brother, Brett; his grandparents,
Joe & Jan Massman and Jim & Jane Prindle; and his great-grandparents, Albin Massman and
Mary Jo Kuennen.
He is also survived by his aunts, uncles, and cousins, including Sam (Jenni Hill) Prindle and
children, Elizabeth and Samantha; Jacob (Nicki) Prindle and their children, Tate and Brooks;
Ben (Jill) Massman and their children, Andrew, Jonathan, Elizabeth, and Emmett; Lisa (Mark)
Nelson and their children, Makayla and Natalie; Joey Massman; Elizabeth (Royce) Mitchell and
their children, Zoey and Zeeva; Melissa (Travis) Wellner and their soon-to-arrive child; and Matt
Massman.
Adam was preceded in death by his uncles, Will Prindle and Adam Lee Massman; his
grandmother, Sandy Prindle; and his great-grandparents, Verna Massman and Leon Kuennen.
We have been very blessed with such a generous outpouring of support during this extremely
difficult time. Thank you to family, friends, and communities far and wide for loving Adam along
with us. He will forever be in all our hearts. Please take these moments of kindness and
compassion that we feel now and continue to pay them forward as we all realize life is too short
– be kind, support one another, and love generously… Long Live Adam #4.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 29th at Lincoln High School in Alma Center, WI. Visitation will take place Friday, August 28th, at Lincoln High School from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., as well as the morning of the service from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Funeral services will begin at 11:00. Following the funeral, burial and committal service will take place at the East Lawn Cemetery in Alma Center. All are invited to share in fellowship and a pot-luck meal in the High School commons. Family asks that those in attendance wear their school colors or livestock show clothing. Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home is assisting the family with Funeral Arrangements