Concordia University mourned the loss of Robert Maessen, 23, who died unexpectedly after collapsing during a pickup basketball game Feb. 25.
     Maessen, a December 2006 pre-seminary graduate, was unable to be revived and pronounced dead at Seward Memorial Hospital.
     "We offer our deepest condolences to Bobby's family, friends and all who loved and cherished him," Concordia President the Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich said.
     Concordia Chaplain the Rev. Wesley Baumeister said Maessen had many friends and was well-liked at Concordia.
     "Probably the thing that impressed me most about Bobby was his ability to cross social groups," Baumeister said. "He was friends with a lot of different people on campus - with musicians and athletes and those on the fringes. Bobby was able to connect with all kinds."
     Maessen was a resident assistant (RA) during his years at Concordia and was very active in the RA program, Friedrich said.
     Maessen's listed residence was Wildwood, Mo., a St. Louis suburb.
     Friedrich said that Maessen's mother had told her son that there were plenty of nice small towns closer to St. Louis.
     "He said, 'I know, but I like Seward,'" Friedrich said.
     Maessen was still living in Seward and planned to enroll in a seminary in the fall.
     "He had a giver's heart. He cared for people really above and beyond what we normally experience," Baumeister said. "Not to make him out to be a saint, but the kid really did know how to reach out to people.
     "(He was) genuine. Absolutely genuine."
     A memorial service will be held at Concordia's Weller Chapel at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28. Visitation will be held at Volzke Funeral Home from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., also on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
     Funeral services in Missouri will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 3, at St. John Lutheran Church, Ellisville, Mo.