Elsie M. Maki

Elsie was born in Keweenaw Bay, MI, to a Finnish farm family of nine brothers and two sisters (a family of 12). She attended schools in Keweenaw Bay and Baraga High School. Even though only Finnish was spoken in her home, she graduated as Valedictorian of her class. After graduation she took the Michigan State Civil Service exam and became employed by the Department of Natural Resources in Baraga. She worked there until her son, Henry, was born in 1957. In 1962, Elsie, husband, son and daughter, sold their home in Baraga and moved to North Palm Beach, FL, where she worked part-time in various positions - among them working for the 52nd PGA Championship and the 19th World Cup, Jack Nicklaus, helped co-author two books and helped found the Medidisc Corp. She also worked for a fine lady in Palm Beach for 40 years.Elsie enrolled in Palm Beach Junior (now State) College and continued to FAU where she graduated in 1978. She continued to work for individuals in Lost Tree until retirement. When her grandson, Zachary, was old enough, he became her travel partner, as they made many grandparent excursions, traveled to Europe, Finland and many Finn Fests. Elsie was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in North Palm Beach for 58 years.

She was predeceased by her husband Leonard, a son, eight brothers and one sister. She is survived by her daughter, Ann Maki; son, Henry (Cathy) Maki; grandsons, Zachary Johnson, and Nicholas and Patrick Maki; sister, Ellen (Al) Covell brother, John Ekdahl; and many nieces and nephews in the U.S. and Finland.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 2 at 1:00PM at Howard-Quattlebaum Funeral, Cremation and Event Center, 754 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, FL 33408. Interment to follow at Royal Palm Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Nativity Lutheran, 4075 Holly Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33408