Grant James Makovec

Grant James Makovec, born in Madison on August 25, 2013, died on December 1, 2025. Grant was bright and inquisitive, a born engineer and tinkerer who loved space and dreamed of going to MIT to design rockets he could yeet into outer space. He cultivated a passion for airplanes and could identify a plane flying over just by how it sounds. His Grandma D and Mima encouraged his love of science with projects and science experiments. He loved gaming, including video games (Star Wars, Roblox, any outer space-themed games), card games, board games (the more complex the better), and dungeons and dragons, where he once played a ferocious half-cat, half-human warrior named Mittens. He had an ear for language honed through years of dual language immersion at Leopold and Cherokee Heights schools, and endless conversations with Papa. He also had an ear for music that allowed him to excel at piano and cello, and a love of theater, but only if he could work in the shadows. He loved athletic activities: biking with dad, running with mom, skiing and snowboarding with his cousins, and fishing, camping and canoeing with Grandpa Fred. Grant was well-loved by all who came to know him, because of his kind, caring, silly and warm personality. He wore shorts and sandals as long as the temperature was above freezing. Grant could always be relied on to entertain his friends and family with his silly faces and goofy antics, like saying “Toes!” and then grabbing you with his toes. Grant loved helping his sibling Emmett with their math and Spanish homework, leading Emmett on outdoor adventures and laughing together. Gone too soon, he will be missed by his dad David Makovec, his mom Jen O’Leary, his younger sibling Emmett, and his most ridiculous semblance of a dog Sir Reginald Bananas. Grant was in the seventh grade at Cherokee Heights Middle School. 

Survived by loving parents David Makovec and Jen O’Leary, sibling Emmett, grandparents Dennie O’Leary & Fred Heisler and Barbara & Scoop Makovec, aunts Vicki Whildin (John), Maggie Wojcik (Matt), Megan O’Leary, Shannon O’Leary (Steve Jackson), Katy O’Leary (Ryan Lynes), Claire O’Leary (Paul Pickens), uncles Paul Makovec (Bree) and Josh Johnson, cousins Liam, Evan, Julia, Morgan, Erin, Ben, Madelyn, Andy, Jack, Henry, Grace, Trace, Ripley, Sylvan, Colby, Tess, Logan and Will, and countless friends and teachers. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please plant a tree in Grant’s honor or make a donation to: Dane County Humane Society, Badger Bots, or Friends of the Boundary Waters. 

Visitation at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 10th, followed by a Celebration of Life at 5:00 p.m. at Cress Funeral Home’s Madison West location, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, WI 53705. The service will be live streamed. A link will be provided here soon.

Please share your memories of Grant by posting here in his guestbook. 

3610 Speedway Road Madison

(608) 238-3434