Gloria Esther (Shaw) Maki
SKANDIA, MI – Gloria Esther (Shaw) Maki, of Skandia, Michigan passed away peacefully on September 19, 2019 after several years of declining health. She was born June 14, 1938 in West Branch Township to Herbert and Laura Shaw, the middle of nine children. Growing up on the family farm, she learned early the values of hard work and family ties. In 1958 she married John Maki, and set up housekeeping in Carlshend. For 61 years Gloria and John were partners and fun-loving competitors in all things, but especially cards and fishing. Together they raised four children, all living in the immediate area: Walt (Karen) Maki, Bill (Carla) Maki, Julie Welsch, and Don (Sandy) Maki. Gloria was a generous and loving Gram to Jill (Jeremy) Connin, Keith Maki, Susan (Ed) Korpi, Brooke Maki, Samantha and Sara Koski. She had six great-grandchildren: Leslie and Micah Connin, and Jazmine, Carter, Aidan and Silas Korpi. Gloria’s surviving sisters are Milly Brown and Ann (Gary) Cattron. Preceding her in death were siblings Glen Shaw, June Martin, Edward Shaw, Dorothy Washburn, Marvin Shaw and Dave Shaw.
Gloria took pride in a clean house, a productive garden, and community service. Through the years she canned thousands of jars of garden produce, and baked countless cookies, cakes and loaves of cardamom bread to share with friends and neighbors. She was a strong, hard-working farm wife, top-loading hay, tending chickens and piling lumber well into her 70s. She was an active member of the Finnish Lutheran Church of Carlshend, and then Community Covenant Church of Carlshend, keeping the coffee hot and the plates full. She was a Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troop, worked for seven years as a clerk at Jack’s IGA in Harvey, volunteered in the Horticulture Department at the Marquette County Fair, served on the Marq-Tran Board, and was in her 45th year of being a Trustee on the Skandia Township Board. Through the decades she and John enjoyed snowmobiling, camping, card playing, “Finland Calling” dances and working in the sawmill. Especially, they fished year-round, keeping score in their small crowded boat or in their “pink palace” ice shack, enjoying each other’s company, and always with a dog. If you were invited to their home for one of Gloria’s famous fish fries, you were in for a special treat indeed as she was a generous hostess. Gloria and John made two trips to Finland, and enjoyed taking Debbie Bus Tours in their later years. Gloria often commented on how good her life was, and was grateful for all of it. Feisty and sharp-witted, Gloria loved her family and friends deeply, and was loved deeply in return.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to Dr. Kroll and staff, and the doctors and nurses at UPHS in Gloria’s recent hospitalizations for their kind and compassionate care.
A Life Celebration will be held on Sunday, September 22 at the Community Covenant Church, 588 Carlshend Road, Skandia, with Pastor Todd Spranger officiating. Visitation will be 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, with services at 4:00 pm, followed by a shared meal.
Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com