08/08/2026
Remembering Jim Maki
This week, Wings of the North lost one of our long-time volunteers and true pillars of our organization, Jim Maki.
Jim was an integral part of our restoration crew for many years, always willing to step in and help wherever he was needed — from operating the forklift to managing the grounds during our annual air shows.
Jim was often the person behind the scenes. When something magically got done, most people never knew how, when, or who had made it happen. More often than not, it was Jim.
He had an incredible knack for solving just about any problem that came his way — whether it was rewiring forklifts, rolling up entirely too much safety fencing after the air shows, or creating parts for the BT project on the lathe in his home workshop. He was also an invaluable help transporting parts back and forth (and back and forth again!) to AirCorps in Bemidji over the years.
Jim shared his time, knowledge, ingenuity, and dedication generously with Wings of the North. His guidance, his opinions, his quiet determination, and simply his presence will be deeply missed.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Jim’s family and loved ones.
If you have a favorite memory, story, or photo of Jim, we’d love for you to share it in the comments. ❤️
