Obituary of Miriam F. Maki

Miriam F. (Kemi) Maki, 81, of Esko, died suddenly but peacefully on Saturday, June 12, 2004 at her home in Esko. Miriam was born April 1, 1923 in Cloquet, Minnesota to August and Hilja Kemi. Miriam attended Cloquet Schools, graduating in 1941. She also attended modeling school in Duluth. Miriam enjoyed traveling with friends and working at the Wood Conversion, Mill C, in the mid and late 1940's. She married Raymond O. Maki of Esko on October 4, 1952 in Cloquet. Miriam's greatest pride and joy were her children, Michael and Kay, and her grandchildren Diana, Tara, and Adam Henninger. Diana "named" Miriam "MomMir" when she started talking and the name has endured for 22 years. All of Diana, Tara and Adam's friends and teachers called her MomMir, as did a lot of the grandnieces and grandnephews. MomMir especially loved the children and grandchildren of her brothers and sisters, attending as many concerts, plays, recitals, games, graduations and weddings as she could. Many will miss her greatly. Miriam was an avid bowler her entire life. She was a league bowler at Evergreen Lanes and later Southgate Bowl. She enjoyed Finn Tournaments, Senior Olympics, and various other tournaments wherever she could find them. She looked for the bowling alley in every town she traveled through. She always enjoyed getting together with the girls for coffee after bowling and other times as well. Miriam was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond; her parents; brothers, Eugene, Leo, Roy, and Donald Kemi; sisters, Esther Johnson and Evelyn Shepeck. She is survived by her son Michael Maki of Esko, daughter Kay (Gary) Henninger of Mahtowa; grandchildren, Diana, Tara and Adam Henninger all of Mahtowa; brothers Carl and Raymond Kemi both of Esko, George Kemi of Cloquet; and sister, Lorraine (Jim) Mayer of Glencoe, MN; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and friends. Funeral services were held on Friday, June 18, 2004 in Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St. in Cloquet. Burial was in St. Matthew's Cemetery in Esko.