Matt Jacob Maki III

Chatham

Matt Jacob Maki III, age 66, of Chatham, died Friday morning, June 23, 2017 at his home under the loving care of his family and North Woods Hospice.   He was born in Munising on November 4, 1950 to the late Matt and Madelon (Hinkson) Maki.  Matt started school in Munising and when the family moved to Forest Lake, he continued at Eben and graduated from Eben High School in 1968.  He then went to the NMU Skills Center and learned the trade of welding.  Matt worked for Harnischfeger in Escanaba and Hallstrom’s Fabrication in Eben.  He then joined the U.P. Plumbers and Pipefitters Union – Local 111.  Matt worked all of the country and was proud of his work.  Some of his favorite memories included the work he did at Lakeview Arena in Marquette and working in Washington state when Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980.  He married Kelly S. Taskey on August 26, 1989.  After the birth of their son, Matt in 1996, he left Local 111 to be able to spend time at home with his family.  He worked for the Union for twenty-five years.   His experience allowed him to get a job with Kimberly Clark and he retired from Neenah Paper in 2013.  Matt was a member of the Alger County Fishing and Game Alliance and he enjoyed fishing and camping.  He said the best thing he ever did in his life was Matt IV and he loved watching him play football, baseball, and hockey, and race cars.  Matt enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, and especially enjoyed his morning coffee klatsch at the Snack Bar in Eben.  Throughout Matt’s difficult three-month illness, he always maintained his wit, sense of humor, and love for his family and friends.

He is survived by his loving wife – Kelly Maki of Chatham; their son – Matt Jacob Maki IV (Kaitlyn Reisland) of Rapid River; sisters – Elaine Maki Gurski of Green Bay, WI and Selina (Bob) Balko of Wetmore; mother-in-law – Rosalee Taskey of Traunik; sisters-in-law – Vanessa (Tom) Curry of Trenary and Marci Taskey of Traunik; brothers-in-law - Steve (Kristi) Taskey of Chatham and Kevin (Laura) Taskey of Ladoga, MI; and numerous nieces and nephews.  Matt was preceded in death by his parents Matt and Madelon, infant brother Andrew Maki, father-in-law – Raymond Taskey; sister and brother-in-law – Sherry and Jim Tyner; and brothers-in-law – Stanley “Stosh” Gurski and Mike Taskey.

Visitation will be at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising on Wednesday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. and also at the church on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.  Pastor Paul Kelto will conduct Matt’s funeral service on Thursday, June 29, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sion Lutheran Church in Chatham.  Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham.

If memorial donations in Matt’s name are going to made, please consider Grace on Wings Mission which was the air ambulance mission that helped get Matt home from Mayo Clinic…back home to his family, friends, and the U.P.  Their address is P.O. Box 42788, Indianapolis, IN  46242.  Or to the Alger County Humane Society in Munising.

Matt’s family would like to thank the North Woods Home Hospice staff and especially to nurse Julie Deisenroth.