Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
Laila L. Makela, 96, a former resident of Laurium passed away on Thursday, September 9, 2021 at Canal View – Houghton County. She was born on November 28, 1924 in Wolverine to William and Elizabeth (Ilveswiitta) Johnson. Laila left the Copper Country following school and travelled to California where she worked at a C-47 & B-29 airplane plant during World War II.
On December 19, 1943 she was united in marriage to Douglas Makela in the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Detroit, Michigan. They raised three sons, Douglas, Robert, and Stacey, and one daughter Cheryl. Together Doug and Laila owned and operated several businesses in the Copper Country, including 13 years as owners and operators of the Osceola Store in Calumet and the Lakes Motel in Lake Linden. Laila retired from the Lakes Motel in 2013. She enjoyed knitting, writing letters, and loved spending time with her grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Elizabeth Johnson, her husband, Douglas Makela, daughter Cheryl Zipp, son Douglas Makela Jr., daughter-in-law Mary Lou, sisters Irene, Elsie, Ellen, and her brother Bernard. She leaves behind her sons, Robert of Lake Linden, and Stacey (Wendy) Makela of Laurium, and 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Laila was a member of the First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Calumet.
A funeral service will be held on Friday September 17, 2021 at 12:00 pm at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Calumet with David Taivalkoski to officiate. Visitation will be held from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm on Friday September 17, 2021 at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Calumet.
Burial will take place at the Lake View Cemetery.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family with the arrangements.
