Maass, David A.

Age 96, of Orono, Minnesota passed away April 29, 2026.

Raised in a household steeped in the traditions of the outdoors—his mother Ora, a Minnesota trapshooting champion and his stepfather, Kelly, an enthusiastic hunting mentor—David developed his early relationship with wildlife through a boyhood spent observing and sketching all things in nature. These formative experiences cultivated both his affection for wild creatures and his intimate knowledge of their behavior, which later became the hallmark of his paintings.

David entered the art world without formal instruction, beginning instead on the shop floor of Jostens in 1947, where he eventually rose to the role of art director in 1950. His artistic development accelerated through friendships with fellow wildlife artists—including David Hagerbaumer, whom he met during his proud service with the United States Marine Corps in San Diego, California in the early 1950s, where he served actively for two years and in the reserves for six. Returning to Minnesota, he committed fully to painting by 1964, blending technical precision with a naturalist’s sensibility.

A prolific contributor to wildlife conservation, David designed thirtyeight duck and conservation stamps, including two Federal Duck Stamp Contest winning entries—an honor he achieved in both 1974 and 1982. His work for Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Delta Waterfowl and numerous state and national organizations helped raise millions of dollars for habitat preservation across North America. His 1974 designation as Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year was the first of five such honors over subsequent decades, a significant honor for which David was very proud.

David had a lifelong relationship with his publishing company Wild Wings, a Lake City, Minnesota business founded by the late Bill Webster, one of David’s closest friends. Together they and numerous fellow artists created one of the strongest brands in sporting art, a relationship which lasted well into David’s 90’s.

He worked to create paintings which were both artistically pleasing, but also accurate in the eyes of avid sportsmen who appreciated the way he captured birds in flight, the movement of big water across a marsh, and sunlight peeking through a cloudy fall sky.

Outside of art, David loved spending time with his family, whether canoeing, hunting, taking in sporting events, traveling or his daily early morning walks with his wife Ann. He will be greatly missed by all, but we are lucky to have had such a long time together.

David was preceded in death by parents: Ora and Kelly Jacobs and Arthur and Elizabeth Maass; brother Ed (Diane)Maass and sister Margie Graham Murphy; sister-in-law Nita Jacobs; wife Kim. Dave is survived by his wife of 40 years Ann Maass; children Jenni (Al) Doyle and Paul (Jenny) Springmeyer; grandchildren Katherine and Andrew Springmeyer; siblings Bill Jacobs, Norton (Jan) Maass and Mary (Steve) Christ.

Source: David Lee Funeral Home Website (2026)

Submitted by: Leah Tharpe

David Maass, essentially a self-taught wildlife illustrator, was born on November 27, 1929 in Rochester, Minnesota. As a youngster he rescued wounded birds and raised pigeons in his home. Also, there was a tradition of hunting in his family as his mother Ora was a Minnesota state trap-shooting champion. Also he hunted frequently with his stepfather, "Kelley".

After high school graduation, Maass worked in the tool and die department for Josten Jewelry, a manufacturer of high-school and college jewelry, and he eventually became the Art Director. Stu Ferreira, a wildlife artist, worked in the department and helped Maass improve his technique and gave him the encouragement he needed to continue painting.

Maass also spent two years in the Marines in California, where he became friends with another wildlife painter, David Hagerbaumer, receiving pointers from him. After his service, Maass returned to Minnesota.

Maass has won thirty-three duck and conservation stamp competitions, including two of the coveted Federal Duck Stamp Contests, one of them in 1974, when he was also chosen Artist of the Year by Ducks Unlimited. He has been named Artist of the Year and feature artist by many other exhibitions and conservation organizations, including the National Wild Turkey Federation and the National Wildlife Art Collectors Society. Maass has raised millions of dollars for conservation causes through donations of his original artworks and limited edition prints.

Over three hundred of Maass' illustrations have been published by Wild Wings, Inc., and he has produced calendar illustrations for twenty-seven years for Brown & Bigelow.

His work has been widely reproduced in journals, books and magazines. Two books are: A Gallery of Waterfowl and Upland Birds, with writer Gene Hill; and The Wildfowl Art of David Maass by Michael McIntosh from the Master of the Wild Series.

Maass shows his work in the annual Lywam Birds in Art and Lywam Wildlife in Art exhibitions in Wausau, Wisconsin. He is represented in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minnesota.

Maass was termed a "master artist" by U.S. Art in June 1997.

Sources include:
http://www.watsonswildlife2.com/page.asp?p=1129
http://www.lang.com/artist/david_maass.shtml
http://www.originalbirdart.com/maass.htm