A Celebration of Life service for Wayne N. Hakala, 97, of Markham, will be 11am Saturday, January 4, 2014 at Palo Congregational Church with Pastor Jerry Kosanovich officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the Markham Cemetery in Colvin Township. Arrangements by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora. Mr. Hakala died Sunday, December 8, 2013, at Northern Pines Medical Center, just one day and one month short of his 98th birthday. He was born January 9, 1916 in a sauna in Markham, MN to Erick and Esther (Pietila) Hakala. Wayne grew up in Markham and brought the English language home to his Finnish parents and siblings when he entered grade school in Markham. He graduated from Aurora High School, Duluth Business College and the Accounting program at Denver University. He worked for the St. Paul Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Prisons and later retired from Erie Mining Company. Wayne was united in marriage to Juanita Rose Nokes on November 14, 1937. They remained married until her death in 2001. They enjoyed many years of traveling, hunting, fishing and hobby farming. Wayne’s greatest passions were dancing and writing letters to the editor. He is survived by his three children: Wayne R. "Butch" (Patricia) Hakala, Renee Koroshec and Joyce (Leonard) Rosati; eight grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; brother, Jack (Sharon) Hakala and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Juanita; an infant daughter, Rosalie; great grandson, Levi Marcotte; brothers: John and Alfred; sister, Martha Skinner; son-in-law, Alvin Koroshec.