Dennis A. Mackling

Dennis Mackling, a longtime resident of Westmont, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2026, at the age of 81.

Born on July 29, 1944, and raised in Illinois, Dennis built a life grounded in hard work, family, and the simple joys of time spent on the water. He devoted his career to precision and craftsmanship as a machinist at Electromotive, where his perfectionist nature and pride in doing things the right way earned him the respect of colleagues and friends alike.

Dennis found his greatest happiness outdoors, especially aboard his boat. Though an Illinois native, he spent many summers in Gobles, MI enjoying the lake, the sunshine, and the company of lifelong friends. In later years, he kept his boat docked in Saugatuck, where he most loved to be until he was no longer able. He was also an avid golfer and bowler, always bringing the same determination and attention to detail to his hobbies that he did to his work.

He was preceded in death by his parents Arnold and Emily Mackling, his sister, Adrienne Skellinger, and her husband, Robert, and by his youngest daughter, Susan Y. Mackling.

Dennis is survived by his daughter Sandy Smith, and her husband, Roosevelt Smith; his grandchildren, Kathrine Mackling, Nicholas Mackling, and Alexis Smith; his great-grandson, Walker Mackling (aka Little Mack); and several nieces who will remember him fondly.

Dennis will be remembered for his strong work ethic, his love of the water, and the care he brought to everything he did. His family and friends will miss him and carry his memory with them always.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to United Senior Services for the compassionate caregiver support they provided over the past four years. Their team was always willing to adapt to Dennis's changing needs and did so with kindness, patience, and genuine love. We offer a special thank you to his "best buddy" Sherman, who has been with Dennis throughout these four years, and to Raf and Peter, who so generously gave their time and care over the past few months. We also thank Rob for keeping everything so thoughtfully coordinated. We are deeply grateful for the comfort, dedication, and love they provided without hesitation.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 10th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Modell Funeral Home with a Chapel Service Wednesday, March 11th at 10:00 a.m. Interment Clarendon Hills Cemetery.