Jon was born on September 27, 1947 in Wadena, MN to Wilfred and Edith Maki. On August 25, 1972, he married Lydia Zopfi. They raised three sons, Ben, Nathanael and Caleb. Jon was Grandpa Maki to their six grandsons and two granddaughters.
Jon was drafted into the army and served in South Korea and the DMZ for two years. His time there as a new Christian was a defining time in his life, one that was recounted often. After the army he graduated from Crown College with a BA in Bible and went on to pastor three churches in Montana, Idaho and ultimately Havasu Alliance Church in Arizona. He served his final church home for over 40 years as layman, elder, interim pastor and ultimately pastor.
He came to Lake Havasu City in 1979 to join his brothers as a partner building homes. Together with his brothers Forest and Paul and on his own, Jon built over twenty homes (and one shed) almost entirely with his own hands and the same love and care he gave to his church.
Jon’s greatest passion was his faith and he worked tirelessly to both understand who God is and explain Him to others. He rested in the fact that God does not lie and that we can have confidence in eternal life because He had promised it (Titus 1:2). He humbly served as a pastor even when he was not officially in that position, always being available to everyone who needed him. Whenever he was asked how a church service had gone, he would answer “only by the Grace of God”. His whole life demonstrated a desire for peace with God and everyone around him, a desire to know the Author of Truth and a recognition that it was only by the Grace of God that any of us find either.
Jon is survived by his wife of 48 years, Lydia in Lake Havasu City and his three sons and their families: Ben in Prescott, Nathanael in Chandler and Caleb in Lake Havasu City. He also has two brothers and their families: Forest in Lake Havasu City and Paul in Roanoke, West Virginia. Finally, he will be missed by the uncountable number of lives changed by his patient, kind and loving demeanor.
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