Cover photo for John W. Makinen's Obituary
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1964 John 2013

John W. Makinen

April 4, 1964 — August 10, 2013

Munising

John W. Makinen, age 49, of Munising, died unexpectedly on Saturday, August 10, 2013 of apparent heart complications while camping with his friends at Colwell Lake. He was born in Munising on April 4, 1964 to the late Floyd and Phyllis (Vardon) Makinen. John grew up in Munising and attended school there. John not only worked in the woods, but he loved the being in the woods and being outdoors. He was a talented fisherman who knew all of the secret spots. John fished like a god. He enjoyed fishing all four seasons and was the first one on the ice when the Bay froze. John also enjoyed hunting, ATVing, cooking, baking, camping, and spending time with his lifelong friend and business partner, Tom MacArthur. He was a great mechanic and could fix anything. John lived simply so he could fish and be outdoors.

He is survived by three siblings - Allen Makinen of Munising, Steve (Ruth Perry) Makinen of Forest Lake, and Kathy (Brad) Kolbus of Munising; nieces - Sarah McCoy, Shalee Makinen, and Ilyssa Makinen; nephew - Kenny McCoy; aunts and uncles - Sonny and Bev Vardon, Bev and Gary Doucette, and Jackie and Mark Whitmarsh; and numerous cousins. John was preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Phyllis and grandparents John and Orvilla Vardon and Ellen and Oiva Makinen.

There will be a time of visiting with family and friends on Saturday, August 17, 2013 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising. A fellowship gathering will take place at Kathy and Brad's home following the visitation.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John W. Makinen, please visit our flower store.

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