Mr Kalle Edvard Mäkinen

Kalle Edvard Mäkinen was a 29 (twenty-nine) year-old Finnish third-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on May 21, 1882, in Tevaniemi Village, Ikaalinen, Västra Finland, Mäkinen’s life was tragically cut short when he became one of the many victims of the Titanic disaster on April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Background

Family History

Mother: Maria Sofia (née Gustafsdotter Uljas) Forsberg (born September 29, 1840)
Father: Unknown
Half-sister: Hilma Josefina (born July 20, 1871)
Sisters:
- Rosa (born August 30, 1862)
- Hilma Julantha (born February 3, 1866, died in infancy)

Kalle’s mother was widowed when her husband, Matts Mattsson Forsberg, died on June 29, 1874, leaving her to raise her children alone.

Marriage and Family

On November 17, 1903, Kalle married Ida Nieminen (born June 3, 1880) in the vicarage of Ikaalinen. At the time of their marriage:

Kalle worked as a farm hand
Ida was employed as a maid on the same farm

The couple had two children:

Paavo Edvard (born August 30, 1904, died 1930)
Lempi Maria (born August 5, 1908, died 1920)

They settled in Vahojarvi village, Ikaalinen county, where Kalle managed his own smallholding.

Travels to America

Kalle Mäkinen’s life was marked by multiple journeys between Finland and the United States:

First Trip (1905): Traveled to Glassport, Pennsylvania, where he had a friend named John Nieminen (likely a relative of his wife).
Return to Finland (1907): Stayed for a few years before deciding to return to America.
Second Trip (1909):
- Departed from Southampton, England on November 24, 1909
- Traveled as a steerage passenger on the steamer Adriatic
- Arrived in New York on December 6, 1909
- Described as a married laborer, 28 years old, 5'10" tall with brown hair and blue eyes
Third Trip (1912): The fateful journey aboard the Titanic

“He travelled to the Glassport, Pennsylvania in 1905, where he had a friend, a John Nieminen (likely a brother or uncle of his wife). He returned to Finland in 1907 but stayed only a few years and then went back to the USA again.”

The Titanic Journey

Boarding Details

Class: 3rd Class
Port of Embarkation: Southampton
Ticket Number: 3101268
Fare: £7 18s 6d

Kalle Mäkinen boarded the Titanic at Southampton, embarking on what would be his final journey to America. He was traveling to Glassport, Pennsylvania, via Hangö and Southampton.

Occupation and Purpose

As a general laborer, Mäkinen was likely seeking better economic opportunities in the United States, a common motivation for many European immigrants during this period.

Fate During the Disaster

Tragically, Kalle Edvard Mäkinen did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. According to the church register of Ikaalainen:

Mäkinen drowned in the sea on April 15, 1912, in the wreck of the Titanic
His body was never recovered

Legacy and Impact on Family

The loss of Kalle Mäkinen had a profound impact on his family:

Compensation: His widow, Ida, received compensation of £250 following the disaster.
Ida’s Life After:
- Lived alone with her children until 1918
- Remarried to a considerably younger man
- Passed away in 1936 due to heart disease
Children’s Fate: Both of Kalle and Ida’s children died young without having children of their own:
- Paavo Edvard died in 1930 at the age of 26
- Lempi Maria died in 1920 at the age of 12

What Can We Learn from Kalle Mäkinen’s Story?

Kalle Mäkinen’s life and tragic death aboard the Titanic highlight the dreams and aspirations of many European immigrants in the early 20th century. His multiple journeys between Finland and America demonstrate the determination of those seeking better opportunities for themselves and their families.

The devastating impact of his loss on his family serves as a poignant reminder of the far-reaching consequences of the Titanic disaster, affecting not only those aboard but also the loved ones they left behind. Mäkinen’s story is a testament to the countless individual tragedies that collectively make up one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.