I’m very sad to hear of his passing- I only worked with him a few years before leaving the engineering research office, but followed his great research successes via new stories as he became leader of the institute. His smile and easy humor had a way of making a challenge seem like it could, and would, be conquered. Science, and the world, is worse off without him.  Deepest condolences to his family.

I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Professor Maschmann. As a mechanical engineering student of his at Mizzou, I will always remember how he made heat transfer a class I actually looked forward to attending (which is remarkable in engineering). His genuine passion for the subject was always evident, and he never hesitated to spend the extra time helping his students to ensure we truly understood the material. He was an exceptional teacher who made a lasting impact on my education and career, and he will be greatly missed. My heart goes out to his family during this difficult time.

Jason S. (BS Mech Eng - Class of 2017)

Rest in peace 💔 Dr. Maschmann smiles and kindness will never be forgotten

Everyone in the College of Engineering is heartbroken by Matt’s passing. He was a kind colleague who had a gift for bringing people together and creating a sense of community at Mizzou.

In my first two months as dean, I asked Matt to consider serving as associate dean for research. I told him that I saw him as a leader in the college, and I heard this feedback from several people I asked who would be a good person for this position. He looked at me and said, “What? Goofy old me?” It was this humor and humility that made it easy to be around him, and his kindness made people feel they belonged.

I will miss Matt very much. He is leaving a huge void in our community. My deepest condolences are with his family and all who loved him.

Matt, I could write a hundred pages about the impact you had on my life and it still wouldn't do you justice. 
 So much of my childhood is colored with memories of you. In all ways but blood, you were my big brother. As the oldest in my own family and as the kid who didn't have any friends who truly GOT me, you filled a void that I didn't even realize I had. You goofed off with me, let me be annoying and silly, took me and my sister out to sno- cones at our favorite spot every summer, took me to the mall to get starbucks and sit in the massage chairs, played games with me, watched my favorite cartoons with me, recorded dumb videos with me, laughed about inside jokes with me, took me to Missouri with you (several times), the list goes on. I cherish those memories so much. You have no idea how positively you impacted me growing up. I wish I had gotten to tell you in person. 
I felt like I could be myself around you, something I didn't really have with anyone else as a kid. Nothing else mattered when I hung around you Matt, you brought out my inner child and my carefree side like nobody else. You were my safe space and my favorite person. For a long period of my life, you were the person who knew me best. 
Not only were you goofy and silly with me, but you helped me through so many of the tough moments that come with growing up. Matt, you were always someone I could count on to help me problem solve & lighten my mood while you did it. You were kind, hilarious, brilliant, and so much fun to be around. I looked up to you so much as a kid, and that remains true to this day. 
I miss you so much. I know we weren't as close in recent years. Adulthood, busy lives and moving states apart got in the way. But I hope you knew how important you are to me. You & your family are my people, and that will never change. I am so beyond thankful that you guys happened to move in next door way back in 2009. You changed my life for the better. 

I love you big bro, rest easy <3

It is nearly impossible to express the profound sense of loss when thinking my friend, Matt Maschmann.  We were neighbors in Dayton, OH for over 7 years and our families created some of the best memories and I consider him to be my BEST friend!  We spent endless summers in our back yards, ‘picking grass’, playing cornhole, and enjoying Strongbow!  Matt helped me build furniture, helped move us across town, helped install hardwood in our new house, watched so many movies together, and our families enjoyed so many fun-filled family game nights…including Jackbox and the classic family fave, Fart-kle…with more hundoes than I can recall.  After they moved to Missouri, there was a void…but it was filled to overflowing nearly every 4th of July when Matt, Shauna, and the Maschlings would come visit Ohio!
Matt kept us all smiling with his incredible quick wit during birthdays, holidays and TWICE nearly starting the neighborhood on fire over the 4th of July (true stories).  We partook in SO MANY incredible desserts including mocha cupcakes (with Matt’s favorite mocha icing), Tonya’s double chocolate chip cookies, Shauna’s BTS cake (Matt did NOT like, LOL)…and we learned the Maschmann Way of baking the perfect Brownkie!
I sit here today trying to understand why…but also have an incredible sense of greatfulness to have known Matt, known his family and his wife, Shauna, and watched his twins, Ben and Syd grow into adults! The MEMORIES are what I will treasure! The impact Matt made on my life is obviously shared with so many others.  He was the Frodo to my Samwise and alas, he has departed from the Grey Havens and sailed west to the Undying Lands!  I will miss him dearly, but am forever thankful for the memories I get to keep.  Godspeed, safe travels my friend, and I will see you in the next chapter…save some Nerd Beans for me!

Matt was a constant presence in my life for more than 20 years. We didn’t talk often, but when we did it was always comfortable, always funny, and always predictable. We wore out the same inside jokes every time we got together. Nothing really got old with Matt… other than him, but he usually didn’t let that get in the way of his antics.

We first met at Purdue in the summer of 2004. My wife and I hit it off with Matt and Shauna, spending evenings over dinner and board games. So much of my motivation for getting a PhD came from working with Matt that summer. He was an excellent mentor and friend, and introduced me to daily “soda runs” for a donut and a soda (signature Matt Maschmann).

We also came up with arguably our greatest co-invention: the "brownkie." He wanted brownies, I wanted chocolate chip cookies, so we baked one on top of the other. We should have patented it. For years afterward, we’d send each other pictures of “brookie” mixes in disgust and lament our missed opportunity.

Before Matt and Shauna moved away from Indiana, we planted a tree in our front yard. Matt dubbed it the “friendship tree,” saying that even if I started hating him, at least the tree would live on. I still track it on Google Maps. It’s healthy and thriving! We helped each other move across the country between Arizona and Indiana, and in the years since we met up at least annually at a conference to catch up.

Matt was made to do science. He was truly brilliant and one of the most thorough scientists I have known. If he was being incessantly goofy and I couldn’t get a straight answer, I could just make a knowingly inaccurate scientific claim and he would instantly sober to correct me. Beneath all that silliness and sarcasm, his soul was golden.

I will miss so many things about Matt; the laughs, the science, the comfortableness of our relationship, the long chats about everything, the goofiness. Most of all, I simply miss my good friend and feel very grateful that he was that to me.

This is terribly tragic, my heart breaks for the family in this time of sudden loss. Matt was a great man. I have many stories of joy, humor, wit, and generosity that he brought to this world. But one of my fondest memories of Matt was when he completed the great cookie cake challenge of 2010 summer. Matt will be dearly missed. I’m thankful that we’re all better for having to pleasure to have him as a part of our own journeys.

OBITUARY

Matthew Ralph Maschmann

July 7, 1978 – September 24, 2026

Memorial Funeral Home, Crematory & Memorial Park Cemetery/Columbia

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