Marguerite O. Maki
Marguerite O. Maki passed away peacefully Saturday, February 5, 2011 in the Virginia Convalescent Center. She was born September 15, 1916 in Kankakee, IL the daughter of G.A. “Andy” and Lulu (Woodhouse) Ogden. She was a graduate of Hibbing High School, Hibbing Junior College, and the University of Minnesota with a Bachelors Degree in Library Science. Marguerite married Melven A. Maki on June 1, 1941 in Fort Meade, Maryland. They were married for 27 years until Mel succumbed to cancer in October of 1968.
Marguerite was the first woman to serve on the Virginia City Council; she was appointed to complete the term of her late husband. She was very involved in civic activities, working with the Red Cross as a captain, Mother’s march, American Cancer Society, and others. She also taught weekday religious education classes, sang for various church and community functions, taught beginning piano lessons, and was very active in the Mesabi Community Concert Association and Job’s Daughters. She served as Choir Director in Zion Lutheran Church, First Methodist Church, and Our Savior’s Lutheran plus the Youth Choir at Gethsemane Lutheran. Marguerite was a past treasurer of AAUW, past secretary of the Johnson School PTA, a past member of Wednesday Musicale, and played piano at the area nursing homes. She was a member of Chapter DX of the P.E.O. sisterhood, was past president of Chapter CI, and a longtime member of the East Range Choral Society. Marguerite was very involved in Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church where she was a former member of the Parish Planning Council, a member and soloist of the Senior Choir, member of the Lutheran Church Women, and the Miriam Circle.
She was an avid swimmer, bike rider, walker, blueberry picker, reader, canoeist, cross country skier, and bocce player. Marguerite enjoyed campfires, and especially loved her time spent at her cabin on Sand Lake. After the fall freeze, she would join the YMCA so she could continue swimming her laps. In the last few years, she enjoyed sitting in her swing on the lakeshore, basking in the sunlight and the fresh breezes. Marguerite cherished visiting with all her friends and neighbors and especially liked it when family came to share the lake with her. She also traveled extensively around the world, and has been in every state in the union.
Marguerite is survived by sons: M. Arthur (Violet) Maki of Hutter, Nicholas A. (Mary) Maki of Hibbing, Robert O.A. (Brenda) Maki of Buhl; and Theodore A. (Margaret) Maki of Lake Vermilion; 9 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and a host of friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one grandchild.
A Gathering Time for family and friends will be held Saturday, February 12, 2011 from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Memorial Service in Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church in Virginia. Pastor Nathan Sager will officiate. Inurnment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in Virginia at a later date.Memorials are preferred and may directed to the Gethsemane Lutheran Church Memorial Music Fund. Family services provided by Bauman-Cron, A Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia. To share condolences online, please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com.
