Gerald "Jerry" Maki

Gerald (Jerry)Raymond Maki was born on May 5, 1938 to Emil and Helen Maki. Emil was a Merchant Marine turned carpenter and Helen was from a farm family in Floodwood Minnesota. Both were proud of the fact that they had 100 percent Finnish heritage.

He and his sister Charlene grew up in Cloquet, Minnesota. When Jerry was finishing highschool his father asked him what he planned to do after graduation, and he said he planned to be a carpenter just like his dad. His father, whom had wanted an education and couldnt go on after high school, told Jerry he needed to go to college and that conversation changed his future.

After a brief attempt at engineering, he studied to be a high school shop teacher. He would work on construction in the summer and on his breaks to help pay for his education. Shortly before he finished college and, amid the vietnam crisis, a friend convinced him to join the Air force Guard. It was a time when the draft made a young man’s life future unsure and that was a way of taking control of his life. Jerrys speciality was radar.

After basic training and over a year of radar school in Denver Colorado he returned to the mid-west and found a job as a shop teacher in Kenosha Wisconisin. There Jerry’s life took another turn as he met Cindy Hosken in the September of 1962. After a whirlwind romance, they decided to wed and were married on June 15, 1963. They moved to Madison, Wisconsin in July and started new teaching jobs in September. Three years later, their first child Eric was born and 18 months later Craig followed. At that time Cindy gifted Jerry with the radial arm saw which he used to add a third bedroom to their two bedroom home.

Jerry returned to college to get his Masters in Home Design in 1970 and then went to work for a group of architects in Madison, Wisconsin. He then returned to teaching and moved to Jackson, Minnasota to teach drafting at the vocational school. Ryan was born in 1971 just a year after arriving in Jackson and soon after the radial arm saw gift was put to use again. Using vocational school help, Jerry designed and built their first new home. It was a beautiful four bedroom home on a wooded ravine.Shortly after they moved into the house they had a wonderful surprise. They completed their family with their daughter Jennifer.

While teaching Jerry become restless and wanted to design homes rather then teach others how to draw them. At the time, they were making trips to Englewood Florida to visit Cindy’s mother. Impulsively in 1981, he decided to move his family of six to Englewood and follow his dreams. Their start was not easy but he preservered. Once arriving to Englewood, they moved into a three bedroom home in Bay Harbor Estates. The family needed a larger home as the three bedroom home they were in wasn’t working well. The well used radial arm saw was put back into use and in 1988 their final home was built.

Jerry continued to find success in Englewood designing many homes in Boca Grande, Palm Island and surrounding Englewood areas and some commercial buildings. As his building designs became more impressive he joined theAmerican Institute of Building Design (AIBD) and received many awards in that organiation’ as well as his homes were showcased in home building magazines.

As the years continued, he and Cindy started to travel. They traveled the US, Italy, Hawaii, Australia, England and cruised around South America and a Baltic Sea, to visit Finland, Norway Russia and Germany. As their children grew up their family expanded and soon 6 grandchildren were added to their lives. Jerry was always very supportive with his children and grandchildren. You would always see him supporting them at cheering competitions, dancing competitions, wrestling, football and band. He also became an avid photographer and was known for his pizza making abilities. At weddings and other parties he was usually on the dance floor and he was always up for a game of pool.,

Jerry is survived by his wife of 58 years, Cynthia Maki, his sister Charlene Hagen, his four children Eric Maki, Craig Maki, Ryan Maki, and Jennifer Tucker as well as his six grandchildren Brooke Maki, Brendan Maki, Olivia Maki, Kaitlyn Tucker, Lauren Maki, and Ashton Tucker.

There will be a Celebration of life at the Lemon Bay Funeral Home on Sunday, January 23. 2022 at 1 pm. Immediately after the service will be a gathering will be at the Tucker Residence.