HOUGHTON - Robert E. "Bob" Maki, 79, a resident of Houghton and winter resident of Mission, Texas, died on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, at the Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen, Texas.

He was born in Toivola, Mich., on March 15, 1930, a son of the late Albin and Minnie (Wuorinen) Maki and was a graduate of the Jeffers High School.

On Dec. 1, 1956, he was married to Ruth H. Byykkonen in Laurium.

Bob was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War.

After serving in the military, Bob attended Greene Barber College in Detroit. He worked as a barber for approximately 35 years in the Houghton and Hancock area with his brother, Ray. He then went to work at Michigan Tech where he was employed for 18 years, retiring in 1990.

Bob was known in the area for his famous snow shoe binders, which he had a patent on.

Bob was a member of Bethany Baptist church of Dollar Bay, and a life member of Ranger Post 6165 V.F.W. of South Range.

Surviving are his wife, Ruth; daughter, Connie Wahlstrom of Farmington Hills, Mich.; son, Randy (Gail) Maki of Marquette; four grandchildren, Daniel Wahlstrom of Farmington Hills, Stephanie (Bill) Nangle of Wesley Chapel, Fla., Jeffrey and Matthew Maki of Marquette; one great-grandson, Andrew Nangle; four sisters, Helen Salani of Hancock, Shirley Allen of Fla., Nancy Stemberger of Brookfield, Wis., and Loraine Widmark of Mill Valley, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Jean Maki of Chassell; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Besides his parents, Bob was also preceded in death by a brother, Raymond; and a sister, Mildred Kallioinen.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday, Feb. 12, 2010, at Bethany Baptist Church in Dollar Bay with Pastor Brian Knight to officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Jukuri-Antila Funeral Home in Hancock, and one hour prior to services on Friday at the church. Range Post will conduct a memorial service at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Spring burial with military rites will be in the Elo Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Antila Funeral Service, Inc. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at antilafuneral.com.