Donald K. Maki

Born November 2nd, 1931, in Wakefield, MI, Don was the son of the late William O. Mackie aka Maki and Linnea (Torkko) Mackie aka Maki.

Don was a 1949 graduate of Wakefield High School. He worked for the City of Wakefield and in various jobs in Michigan and New Mexico before entering the U.S. Army in 1952. He served with the rank of Staff Sergeant and Squad Leader, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion in the Korean War Conflict. He received the Korean War Service Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, National Service Defense Medal and United Nations Service Medal before being discharged in 1954. He then went to work for the State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources – Forest Management Division in Wakefield, MI, as a Forest Fire Lookout. He was later elevated to Forest Fire Officer at Gwinn, MI, until his retirement in spring of 1988. He was honored for his work ethic at a ceremony at the State Capitol and awarded the Natural Resources Commission Commendation Award.

Don’s wide range of skills allowed the department to utilize his abilities in a variety of assignments. He was an accomplished carpenter but some of his work included training program crews on masonry and carpenter techniques to constructing an Air Lock Enclosure, to building an entire office and garage complex.

Don was well versed in electronics and mechanical systems and was able to make immediate repairs on Forest Fire Equipment in the field which allowed projects to continue when expensive transportation costs otherwise would have resulted in extended downtime of the machinery.

Don’s regular duties were Project Engineer for the construction of six (6) bridges in Marquette County and for technical expertise and assistance on numerous other DNR bridge projects.

Don married, Jeanette LaVerdure, in 1954 at St. Mary’s Church, Hurley, WI.

Survivors include his spouse, Jeanette Maki; son, David W. Maki (Carlena) of Peoria, AZ; granddaughters, Dr. Lynn C. Maki of Scottsdale AZ and Kayla Egner Renwick (Kevin) of Dayton, KY: grandsons, Craig Maki of Marquette and Jerod Egner (Emily) of Cincinnati, Ohio and Marquette; great-grandson, Declan Renwick of Dayton KY, Sister-in-law, Marguerite LaVerdure Baumgartner of Wausau, WI, brother-in-law, Tom LaVerdure (Nancy) of Hurley, WI; nieces and nephews, Barbara Suomi of Wakefield, Margaret Olson Waara (Rod) of Phillips, WI, Mary Ann Kallas of Hurley, WI, Christine (Ken) Bisgrove of Wausau, WI, Michael (Joanne) Ginolfi of American Fork, Utah, Lynn and Don Stenstrom of Ironwood and several nieces and nephews in Wisconsin, Illinois, New Mexico, Connecticut and New York; special friends, Karin and Bill Hansard, John Quigley Sr. (Sandy) and John Quigley Jr, Terri and Steve Gillotte, Jill and Bruce Paris and the Smale Family.

Preceding him in death besides his parents were 4 sisters, Verna Maki, Bernice Maki Stenstrom, Laura Maki Olson, Carrie Maki Ozzello; 5 brothers, Earl Maki, Eugene Maki, Bernhardt Maki, Douglas Maki, and Lloyd Maki; niece, Lenore Olson; grandparents, Jacob Torkko and Sofia Skytta Torkko, Jacob Maki and Wilhelmina Eskola Maki.

Don was an avid sports person and enjoyed fishing in the spring and summer months (when he wasn’t on Fire Call for DNR) and hunting in the fall (when he wasn’t working law enforcement for the DNR). He also enjoyed watching National baseball and football games. He was active for 5 years as the pitcher for American Legion Post #1948 Hard Ball Team in Wakefield in the 1950’s, as well as, a participant in the Interstate Baseball League.

Don will be remembered greatly for his enthusiasm, sense of family inclusion, hunting and fishing trips with his son, texting David, Carlena and Lynn often, picking up Craig and Lynn after school, teaching Craig to master Nintendo games, making memories with Kayla, Jerod and Declan, building and fixing anything that needed construction or was broken for family, friends and neighbors alike.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Catherine Kroll and the Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center-Gwinn Clinic, UP Private Duty and Lake Superior Life Care staff for their care and concern.

A celebration of Don’s life will be held in the summer and will be announced at a later date.

Canale-Gwinn Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the family, where memories may be shared at

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations can be directed to Gwinn Area Community General Fund c/o Marquette County Community Fund, P.O. Box 37 Marquette, MI 49855.