Mark Joki

Mark was born on Jan. 18, 1954, in Detroit, to Martha (Keary) Joki and Matt Joki. His family moved back to the Copper Country when he was three months old. He grew up in Mohawk, and later Laurium. Mark attended CLK Schools, graduating from Calumet High School with the Class of 1972. After graduation he moved to Detroit and worked for the Ford Motor Company for two years, the moving back to Laurium and painted houses among other jobs.

On Aug. 8, 1975, he met his best friend and the love of his life, Lori Rein. They were married on June 4, 1976, and spent almost 49 wonderful years together.

After their only child, Kim, was born on Dec. 10, 1976, Mark joined the United States Air Force. After basic training Mark was stationed at Kadena AFB in Okinawa, Japan, for two years, where Lori and Kim joined him for a year. The family moved to Sacramento, California, Great Falls, Montana, and Oscoda, Michigan, before Mark left the Air Force after 10 years.

The family then moved back to Laurium, where Mark joined the Michigan Department of Corrections in 1990. He worked at Hiawatha Correctional Facility in Kincheloe, Michigan, for two years, while Lori and Kim stayed in Laurium, where he would make it home on weekends. Mark was then transferred to Camp Kitwen in Painesdale, where he worked for 18 years before retiring in 2010.

Mark was a member of American Legion Post 90.

In 1996, Mark and Lori moved to Lori’s family cottage at Five Mile Point, where they lived for 20 years, enjoying the ever changing moods of Lake Superior. Together they moved to Calumet in 2015, where Mark worked at Luigi’s Bar for five years to “get over his shyness” as he liked to tell people.

Preceding him in death were his mother, Martha (Keary) Joki; his father, Matt Joki; in-laws Ted and Vivian (Hiltunen) Rein; brother-in-law, Michael Rein; and many other loved ones and friends.

Surviving are his wife, Lori (Rein) Joki of Calumet; his child, Kim (Rhianna and family) Joki of LaCrosse, Wisconsin; sister, Mary (John) Meneguzzo of Laurium; nephew, Dan Meneguzzo of North Point, Minnesota; niece, Dacia Meneguzzo and her husband Josh Kilanowski of North Point; cousin, Eric (Shelly) Keary and their children; special friends, Claudia Brain, Keith Zerbst, Melissa (Jeff) Foss and their children; and many more family and friends.

He was especially proud of his granddaughters Maddy and Molli Moss (daughters of Desi (Ames) Barker and Geof Moss), who he loved very much. They were his pride and joy and he loved being their “Papa Smurf.”

We would like to thank Dr. McConnon, Melissa Salani, and everyone at the Lake Linden Family Health Center, and all the other providers who did everything in their power to help Mark. And finally, to the staff and D.J Jacobetti Home for Veterans, who cared for him in his final days. Their kindness and compassion went above and beyond. We are grateful to them all.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Mark at the Ryan Funeral Home on Saturday, April 12, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Jared Howard to officiate.