Kathy Jo Maki

Eben Junction

 Kathy Jo Maki, age 73, of Eben Junction was called Home to be with her loving Savior, Jesus Christ on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at her home surrounded by her loving family and under the care of Lake Superior Home Hospice. She was born in Marquette to Toivo and Anna (Tuskan) Polvi on June 23, 1951. Kathy grew up in Skandia on Lawson Road. During the winters, her Grandpa would drive the horse and sleigh to their barn to collect the milk cans and Kathy and her sister Glenda would ride the sleigh out to the road to catch the bus. Her sense of adventure and fearlessness started at a young age on the farm where she spent her days exploring the woods, on the brook trout stream, collecting bugs and she wasn’t afraid of snakes. Kathy was also active in 4-H and that exposure created a lifetime appreciation of the program. She attended school in Skandia through eighth grade and then graduated from Marquette Senior High School in 1969. Kathy met “her Danny” in 1968 at a teen dance in Traunik and the two of them have been dancing ever since. They were married on October 23, 1971, and in 1973 they built their house on North Ferguson Road where they raised their family and created the home that was the gathering place for amazing get-togethers and family occasions. 

 Kathy worked at Wickes Lumber in Skandia for many years. She spent time at the First National Bank and five years at Kimberly Clark with International Export Customer Services. While in her 40’s she attended college and earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northern Michigan University. She began working at the college in a number of different positions including the College of Business, the History Department, and then she retired from the Dean’s Office after nineteen years in 2016. While working at NMU, she earned her master’s degree in public administration and took many other classes that interested her, including photography. Kathy made many great friends while at NMU, and she loved working at the university. After retirement, she became the secretary at Sion Lutheran Church and she cherished the time working with Pastor Paul Kelto and serving her church community. 

 Kathy was an avid cross-country and downhill skier and skied across Michigan at Powderhorn and Indianhead and in Colorado skiing at Winter Park, Copper, Vail, and Steamboat. She enjoyed her Wednesday night racing at Marquette Mountain with her team, The Falling Finns. Her adventurous spirit would not let her sit still, and their family trips took them to Rhode Island, Texas, Hawaii, Florida, and one of her favorite places, Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Kathy and Dan loved biking, especially in Lanesboro, Minnesota and they rode hundreds of miles around Hilton Head Island. She started her mornings in the gym at NMU while working there. In her retirement, she would still travel to the gym in the mornings before beginning her day at Sion. Kathy enjoyed snowshoeing, playing softball for Joyce’s Beauty Nook, water skiing, running 5K races, and hiking. She, Dan, and their family would backpack around Grand Island and the Rock River Canyons, and they loved to go off the beaten path during their adventures. Kathy was always willing to learn and try new things. 

 Kathy was an amazing cook and baker, and her children’s favorite after-school snack was her warm homemade bread. She baked multiple pies so everyone could have their favorite, canned all the vegetables from her own garden, grew beautiful flowers, and could be ready to host a party for fifty people on short notice. Kathy was a 4-H leader and taught sewing and made both her and her children’s clothing. She attended Sievers School of Fiber Arts on Washington Island where she made many beautiful rugs, towels, and table runners, but most importantly, made great friends, especially the Shawano Girls. Kathy and Dan loved to hunt together, and she always seemed to bag more bucks than him. They spent their summers brook trout fishing and autumns bird hunting. Kathy and her family loved their time on Cooks Lake, spending time at the Maki camp kayaking and riding on the pontoon. Even before camp was built, she would bring her family there to camp, cooking over an open fire, and sleeping in a tent. Their traditional Sunday started at church, followed by a big family dinner, and then skiing at the Chatham Ski Hill or a trip to Cooks Lake. 

 Kathy was involved in her community serving on the Rock River Township Board in the 70’s and 80’s, the credit union board until last April after serving thirty-nine years, and she volunteered with United Way for nine years. She was an active and faithful member of Sion Lutheran Church where she was a Sunday School teacher, attended Bible studies, and was involved with the Ladies Guild. As a mother, she raised her children in the ways of the Lord teaching them to love, serve, and trust Him always. Everything she did was for family and with family. Her grandchildren were her priority and she supported them in all of their endeavors including basketball, hockey, baseball, and 4-H events. She loved teaching the next generation the opportunities of skiing, baking, biking, and love of the outdoors. 

 Kathy is survived by her loving husband of over fifty-three year – Daniel Maki their children – Nichole (Andy) Reichert of Eben Junction, Jason (Erica) Maki of Slapneck, and Brandi (Mike) Rondeau of Lawson Road; grandchildren – Brenden (Salena) Maki and Emma Jo (Ben Kulik) Rondeau, Michael “Mikey” Rondeau, Isaac Rondeau, and Kate Rondeau; great-granddaughter - Milja Maki; sisters – Glenda (Mike) Luoma and Diane Jefferies; step-sisters – Carol and Kathy Salo; brothers and sisters-in-law – Kathy Kolpack, Judy Gerken, Della (Bruce) Davey, Bill (Robin) Maki, and Randy (Lynne) Maki; uncle – Lloyd (Mary) Tuskan; many nieces and nephews who recognized how special she was; and numerous good friends including her dear friend, Lorraine Kemp. Kathy was preceded in death by her father Toivo Polvi, her mother Anna Polvi-Salo, stepfather Ray Salo, parents-in-law – Walter and Helen Maki, and brother-in-law Curt Gerken.

 Services will be held at the Sion Lutheran Church on Saturday, February 22, 2025. Visiting time with family and friends will be from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Pastor Paul Kelto will conduct Kathy’s memorial service at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham at a later date.

Kathy’s family would like to extend their gratitude to Drs. Chris and Jennifer Dehlin, Dr. Hogan at Mayo, the Cancer Center of Marquette, the caring staff at Lake Superior Home Hospice and Pastor Paul Kelto. Kathy has battled blood cancer over the past thirteen years and in the past year has required multiple blood transfusions. Her family would like you to consider donating blood to the U.P. Regional Blood Center or your local blood center, in memory of Kathy.

 In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to Sion Lutheran Church in her name.