Obit: Maki, Matt #2 (1888 - 1954)

Contact: Stan

Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Maki, Kile, Wirtala, Alick

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 12/02/1954

Maki, Matt #2 (18 JAN 1888 - 20 NOV 1954)

Matt Maki, retired farmer of late years but a civic leader and prosperous farmer in the Town of Hixon (Clark Co., Wis.) for 35 years, was placed in his final resting place at Riverside Cemetery on Thursday, Nov. 25^th.  Services were held at 1:30 p.m. from Bethany Lutheran Church, Owen, with Rev. John Saarinen officiating.  Serving as pallbearers were Lawrence Munson, Art Karow, Kauno, Niemi, Charles Kangas, William C. Kangas and John Kujola.

Word of Mr. Maki’s death came as a complete surprise to members of his family and his host of friends.  He had left early Saturday morning, Nov. 20^th, 1954, accompanying William Kangas, and his son-in-law, Elvin Kile, to Perkinstown where they planned to enjoy the opening of deer season.

Apparently he was enjoying excellent health and was last seen about two o’clock by his son-in-law.  Less than an hour later another local hunter, Harry Hansen, Withee, came upon Maki’s body in the woods, dead from a heart attack.

He was born on Jan. 18, 1888, in Peraseinajoki, Finland.  Being a pioneer resident of the Town of Hixon he farmed for 35 years previous to retirement and just this summer completed building a new home between Owen and Withee on the north side of Highway 29.

For ten years he served as chairman of the Town of Hixon and was an active member of Bethany Lutheran Church.

His untimely death is mourned by his wife Mary; three sons, Reino, Chicago; Martin, Forest Park, Ill.; Toiyo of Chicago and a stepson, Eddie of Pittsburg, Calif.; three daughters, Mrs. John O. (Irene) Wirtala; Kaliva, Mich.; Mrs. George (Loila) Alick, St. Paul, Minn.; Mrs. Elvin (Lilly) Kile, Withee; 10 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; one stepson, Henry Smith, serving with the navy at Pensacola, Fla.; and two step-daughters, Mrs. Elsie Laitch and Mrs. Mary Otto of Chicago.