Dennis Maki
IOWA CITY – Dennis R. Maki died on January 2 at UIHC after a brief illness.
Left behind to honor his memory is his husband Andrew Lage and his former wife Evelynn Maki. He is also survived by his three children and their dependents: Jessica Abbott (Eric) of Round Rock Texas and her sons Jacob and Logan, Erik Maki (Jenifer) of Johnston, Iowa, their daughters Kora and Ella, son Todd Maki (Becky) of San Antonio and their three children Eva, David and Ainsley. He is also survived by his sister Sue Ann Krueger (Fred) and his niece and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Rick.
Dennis was born on May 4, 1948, to Roy and Shirley Maki in Toledo, Ohio and he attended schools in Calumet, Michigan. He received a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State and was awarded the Phi Beta Kappa key. He then began a career in the building trades to the consternation and amazement of his friends and family. He later earned a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin, mentored by Dr. George Wright.
He began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa in August 1982 under the late Ralph Roberts. Dennis became an Associate Professor in August 1984 and Professor in August 1995. Dennis also served as Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation and Counseling.
In his forty years as an academic, Dennis’s focus was on raising the professionalization of Rehabilitation Counseling by focusing on clinical supervision, assessment and cross-cultural issues relating to disability and rehabilitation.
Dennis was the Past President of the Council on Rehabilitation and of the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association and a CRCC Commissioner. He retired from the College on June 30, 2013. He treasured his retirement and the opportunities for travel and reconnecting with friends.
There will be a celebration of life, a party actually, on May 4, 2024, Derby Day. The time and location are under consideration.
The full measure of his life was completed by his living husband, pride in his children and his cherished friends.