Gordon Earl Maki, 73, loving husband of Helen Baxter Maki for 50 years, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 21 st , 2016 in his home surrounded by his family.

Gordon was born on October 11, 1942 in Hurley, Wisconsin to Kaino and Mary (Novacich) Maki. Gordy was raised in Hurley, attending St. Mary's Catholic School and graduating from Hurley High School in 1960.

Gordy put himself through college by working five jobs, that included pumping gas in Hurley, digging graves in area cemeteries, mopping floors in the Hurley Pasty Shop, as a butcher at the A&P in Ironwood and stacking grocery shelves at the A&P in Hurley. He received his Bachelor's degree in Education from UW-Superior in 1964. He married Helen Baxter on June 19, 1965 in Minocqua, Wisconsin.

He was an elementary school teacher in Beloit and in Wausau before completing his Master's Degree in School Administration at UW-Madison in 1971. Helen and Gordy moved their family to Suamico in 1973 where he became the principal at Bay View Middle School and then later at Meadowbrook Elementary School. In 1998 he retired as an educator, to enjoy a second career for an additional ten years, as a realtor for Shorewest.

Gordy loved people and doing things with the people he loved - camping, working, downhill skiing, biking, skeet shooting and family hunting trips. Gordy was a fine man with a compassionate and kind soul. He greatly valued faith, family, friendships, acceptance, kindness, laughter, education, and country.

Gordy is survived by his wife, Helen Maki, his three children, daughters Cheryl Maki, Pulaski; Lynn (Victor) Murphy, Suamico; and son Doug (Beth) Maki, Germantown; six grandchildren; Aidan, Owen, Ava, and Griffin Murphy and Grace and Maggie Maki, one brother Doug (Mary) Maki, Janesville; brothers and sisters-in-laws and their spouses, Bill (Beth) Baxter, New Smyrna, FL, Mike (Dottie) Baxter, Wausau, Margaret (Jim) Barnes, Rhinelander, Paul (Sharon) Baxter, New Berlin; Aunt Katie Hudacek, Ironwood MI, and Uncle Matt (Blanche) Novacich, Ironwood, MI, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and several aunts and uncles.

Friends may call at Ss. Edward & Isidore Catholic Church, 3667 Flintville Road, Suamico, on Saturday August 27 th at the church. Visitation will occur Saturday from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. David Hoffman presiding. Burial will take place in the parish cemetery immediately after Mass. Online condolences welcome at www.PfotenhauerFuneralHome.com

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Gordon E. Maki Education Scholarship , which will benefit the graduates of the Howard-Suamico School District.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers of Home Instead, Unity Hospice and parish care minister, Jerry Stepien for their loving and compassionate care.