Eino E. Maki, age 74, of 13836 County Line G. Road, Rock, died Tuesday April 3, 2007 at the St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba, following complications due to a stroke.

Eino was born July 14, 1932, at his family’s home in Rock, the son of Finnish immigrants Urho and Anna (Rankila) Maki. He was raised on the family farm in Rock and attended and graduated from the Rock School System. Following school and on November 14, 1953, Eino married the former Shirley Derouin, in Escanaba, and together the couple made their home in Rock where they continued to run the family farm throughout many years of their marriage. In addition to working on the farm, Eino was employed for the Rock Public School System as a custodian and also as a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service in Rock and surrounding areas. In 1978, Eino became a full time mail carrier and continued his work delivering mail until his retirement. Eino was a first generation Finnish/American who was extremely proud of his Finnish heritage. He attended many Finnish/American activities throughout his life and enjoyed traveling back to Finland seven times over the years to visit family. Quoting his grandchildren, Eino was an "awesome grandpa" who loved spending time with his grandchildren and family. He had a passion for reading and enjoyed photography, playing cards (SKIP-BO), visiting with friends and attending Finnish dances. Eino was very active with the Rock Community Federal Credit Union on the loan approval board. He will be deeply missed by his loving family, neighbors and friends whose lives he touched over the years.

In addition to his loving wife Shirley, Eino is survived by:

1 Son: Myron Maki of Utica, MI

1 Daughter: Joan Smith of Cornell, MI

3 Grandchildren: Heather Maki, Rachel Maki and Jimmy Smith

Also listed among the surviving family members are a total of 5 nieces and nephews and many loving cousins and relatives whom reside in Eino’s family’s homeland of Finland.

Preceding Eino in death were his parents, Urho and Anna Maki, two sisters, Julia and Evi Maki and son in law, Jim Smith who preceded Eino in death in 2002.

The Maki family will receive friends on Monday from 3:00PM to 5:00PM at the Skradski Funeral Home located at 706 Wisconsin Avenue, Gladstone. Funeral services celebrating the life of Eino E. Maki will follow visitation, at 5:00PM, at the Skradski Funeral Home with luncheon to follow funeral services at the First Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall located at 1212 Minneapolis Avenue, Gladstone. Committal will be in the Rock Cemetery. The Skradski Family Funeral Homes of Delta County are assisting the Maki family with arrangements.