Allan Alvin Maki
April 1, 1945 - April 14, 2021
As published in the April 26, 2021 World-Spectator
Allan Alvin Maki, of Tantallon, Saskatchewan, beloved husband of Sandra, passed away at St. Anthony’s Hospital, Esterhazy, on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at the age of 76 years.
Alan was a great man, and his death has created a profound sense of loss in everyone who knew him. There are not many people that pass through this world that is liked by everyone he meets, but Allan was one of them.
Allan loved his family. The most important thing in Allan’s life was his family. His wife, his four sons, their wives and his grandchildren were all so special to him. He was so proud of his boys, the men that they have become, and each of their accomplishments and paths they have chosen.
Allan leaves to mourn his loss his wife Sandra with whom he shared fifty years of marriage. He leaves his four sons, Warren (Judith and Kataja), Dwayne, Donovan (Brittany, Lydia, Teigan, Harper and Max), and Jason (Ellisha, Keely-Shay, Slade and Lincoln). He also leaves his sister Marlene, brothers Harold and Vincent (Angie) brothers-in-law; Robert (Kathleen) Kelly, Bill Street, and Bruce Coghill, sister-in-law; Shirley Kelly, along with numerous nephews and nieces and a multitude of friends from near and far. He was predeceased by his parents: John and Martha Maki, his mother-in-law Mabel Kelly, siblings; Beverly Street, Berva Sheppard, Kathy Coghill, Dennis Maki (in infancy); brothers-in-law; Lyle Stevenson and Gordon Kelly.
Allan entered this world on April 1, 1945, the eldest of eight children born to John and Martha Maki. In the early ‘50’s when the tuberculosis outbreak was active, Allan, his dad, his sisters Marlene, Beverly and his brother Dennis were all confined to Fort San. He spent many months there, during which time they lost little Dennis to the disease.
He attended school at Cranbrook and Wapella schools before embarking on his voyage in the work world. He worked at numerous jobs before he went to Thompson, Manitoba. Here he had his first taste of mining while employed with Westcore Diamond Drilling. In November of 1970 he and Sandra Kelly were married and they made the move to Thompson. While there they made new and lasting friendships, and in 1973 they welcomed their first son, Warren. They moved to Atwater in 1974 and Allan worked at Pask Farms. 1975 was an eventful year; Allan started his life long career with IMC, they bought their first house and moved to Tantallon, and their second son, Dwayne was born. Donovan was born in 1981 and Jason in 1983.
Allan and Sandra bought a lot at Round Lake in 1981. It has been the scene of family bonding and adventures with boating, fishing, skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, campfires and just hanging out with the boys, grandchildren and friends who would drop by.
In 1990, Allan and Sandra acquired the Maki family homestead. Countless weekends were spent out in the New Finland woods, skidooing, quadding, hunting, cutting wood for the sauna, planting and tending his huge garden and entertaining friends.
When Allan was young, he so admired the older folks and the stories they would tell. Without even realizing it, with the passing of time, Allan became an accomplished story teller, that everyone around him loved to listen to. His ability to remember events from years gone by was amazing and he loved sharing his experiences from the past.
Allan played many roles during his life. He was a chicken, the big bad wolf, Mrs Old MacDonald and Santa Claus. He was a preacher, presiding over Sunday morning services at the lake, and even officiated at a wedding.
After 31 years with IMC, Allan retired in 2006. He enjoyed 15 years of retirement.
Allan was so proud of his Finnish heritage and it was a very important part of his life. He was fluent in the Finnish language and he and the family always attended the annual Juhannus picnic in the Finn Colony. He never missed the Cemetery cleaning day and the St John’s Lutheran church held a special place in his heart. Allan was so grateful that he and Sandra were able to fulfill his lifelong dream of travelling to Finland.
Last fall Allan was able to fulfil another of his dreams, he purchased a 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible. He owned many cars in his life time, but never a convertible.
Allan loved to travel and he and Sandra were fortunate to have travelled not only to Finland, Norway, Sweden and Estonia, but also to New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Macau and Cuba. From the west coast to the east coast of Canada. Cruising to Alaska and road tripping across the southern USA.
Allan loved music, singing and dancing. Not many people can be immortalized with a song written about their wild ways but “Wild Allan Maki” was. The folk song was recorded by Saskatchewan artist Alex Runions after being written by his uncle years earlier around a New Finland Campfire.
Allan loved auction sales; Sandra can show you proof of that. Every purchase was a treasure even if it was only a box of door knobs. He loved camping, fishing, hunting, gardening, cutting wood, socializing with a Pilsner in his hand. He loved the pot luck suppers and Bingo with the gang, a good game of crib or 31. He loved skidooing and hanging out at the shack. He loved life and oh how he loved to laugh. The list goes on and on.
There were very few things that Allan didn’t like, only a few things come to mind. He didn’t like borsht; he didn’t like tom cats and most of all he didn’t like being out fished by his woman.
Allan was blessed with a good amount of that Finnish Sisu (translated sisu means strength, courage, perseverance, extraordinary determination in the face of extreme adversity) which helped him through more than enough health crisis in his life, including tuberculosis as a child, a heart attack and subsequent bypass surgery and his battle with cancer.
As we bid farewell to Allan; our husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, friend, let us wrap ourselves in his warmth. Let us treat our time here as Allan did, life is to be lived, loving is unconditional and laughter should be hard, loud and often. Good bye Allan, we love you, we miss you. Until we meet again.
A family graveside service was held at New Finland Cemetery on Saturday, April 17 with Rev. Delta Kelly officiating. The pallbearers were Warren Maki, Donovan Maki, Jason Maki, Vincent Maki, Tyler Maki and Brent Kelly.
A gathering of friends and family to remember Allan will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church—New Finland, in memory of Allan.
Email or sign the online book of condolences at www.carscaddenfuneralchapel.com.
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