Joseph W. "Bill" Maksym, 74, of White Pine, died unexpectedly Monday, May 26, 2008, at Marquette General Hospital in Marquette, after a brief hospitalization. He was born July 26, 1933 in Ironwood, son of the late Frank and Mary (Boho) Maksym, and graduated from L.L. Wright High School in 1951. He worked briefly in the Chicago area before enlisting in the U.S. Navy for four years. He was stationed at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD and did a tour of duty on the Mediterranean Sea and the Altlantic Ocean. Following his honorable discharge, he worked for one year in Minneapolis where he married Joanne Olson in 1959. Bill graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior with a degree in geology. He was then employed at White Pine Copper Co. until his retirement in 1998. He and Joanne made their home in White Pine for the past 40 years. He was a member of White Pine American Legion Post 462 and attended Faith Lutheran Church in White Pine. He was active in White Pine Boy Scouts and was a former member of the American Institute of Mining and Engineers and served on the board of directors. Bill enjoyed photography, bird watching, gardening and his fox terriers over the past 35 years. After his retirement, to keep his mind sharp, he did the Daily Globe crossword puzzle everyday. Surviving are his wife of 49 years, Joanne; a son, Christopher Jay (Mary Jo), of Dexter; a daughter, Jennifer Lynn Maksym, Pinckney; three grandchildren, Sara Maksym, Ann Arbor, Christopher Jason Maksym, Dexter, and Justin Anthony Maksym, Kalamazoo and Dexter; four sisters, Eleanore Schwabe and Rosemary Iacono, both of Ironwood, Frances (Paul) Harrison, Blue Eye, MO, and Bernice Didier, Northbrook, Ill.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Walter, in 1975. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. CDT on Friday, at McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood. Cremation will follow. Visitation will then continue from 2 p.m. until memorial services on Saturday at 3 p.m. EDT at Faith Lutheran Church in White Pine, located in the White Pine Community Church. The Rev. Penny Olson will officiate. Luncheon will follow at the Konteka in White Pine. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, the Ontonagon County Cancer Association or the Ontonagon County Animal Protection Service. To view Bill's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are with McKevitt-Patrick and Engstrom Funeral and Cremation Services of Ironwood and Hurley.