Dana Aaron Martin

Dana Aaron Martin passed away in his home in Evanston, Illinois, on April 20, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. Born on November 28, 1973 in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Dana was the son of the late David E. Martin and the late Diane Koons. On September 15, 2001, Dana married the love of his life, Katrina (Kutzbach) Martin in Madison, Wisconsin.

Dana graduated from Lahser High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in 1992. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan in 1996, where he majored in Organizational Studies and Psychology. He earned his MBA at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management in 2005.

Dana enjoyed an 18-year career at Korn Ferry beginning in Minneapolis with Hay Group and moving to Chicago in 2005 where he became a Client Partner in 2017. As one of the firm’s senior leaders in reward and executive compensation practices, he found his niche in leading the chemical and agricultural sectors, building on his early experience developing compensation strategies while working at Cargill. Throughout his career, Dana was dedicated to maintaining meaningful relationships with both colleagues and clients and despite the challenges he faced in his last year, he committed himself to his work and to supporting his family.

Above all, Dana treasured his time with Katrina and their children, Aaron, Rob and Julia. Together they hiked and camped their way through twelve National Parks and numerous canyons and peaks. His adventurous nature was never more apparent than when he booked a flight to Ecuador to join Katrina after only six weeks of dating. They would go on to explore much of the world together, and later with their children. He taught Katrina and his kids to fish. As an opportunistic angler, he was always happy to sit with good company and simply have a line in the water. Dana cherished his years coaching flag-football, combining his love for his children and his beloved Michigan Wolverines. At home he was happiest doing yard work, caring for his pets and plants, and luring friends and family to his backyard on Sundays with the promise of his famous barbequed ribs.

Dana lives on in the hearts of his loving wife of twenty years, Katrina Martin, and their children Aaron, Rob and Julia Martin; his brothers, Darin (Pam) Martin and David (Abby) Martin and his late brother Daniel Martin; his dear step-father Jerry Koons; his mother-in-law Gisela (late John) Kutzbach and his sister-in-law Angela (Andy) Currie, brother-in-law Mark (Arezou) Kutzbach, as well as his dear nieces and nephews. Dana will be greatly missed by his close friends, from high school, college and Evanston, who he cherished throughout his life.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, April 24 from 3 – 7 pm at Wm. H. Scott Funeral Home, 1100 Greenleaf Ave, Wilmette, IL, 60091. A funeral service will occur Monday, April 25, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 2515 Central Park, Evanston, IL 60201.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dana may be made to Kellogg Cancer Center, via web: https://foundation.northshore.org/donatekellogg, or by mail: Kellogg Cancer Center c/o NorthShore Foundation, 1033 University Place, Suite 450, Evanston, IL 60201. Memorial floral arrangements may be ordered from Rogers Park Florist, https://www.rogersparkflorist.com/.