My name is David Edward Makela and I'm the owner of Makela Fence. My grandparents, along with my aunt and uncle, moved to the United States from Finland in the early part of the 20th century.
My father was born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1917. My grandparents settled in Hubbardston, Massachusetts where they bought a small farmhouse to raise their family. My sister raised her family there and still lives in the same house today which I think is pretty special.
In 1969, after high school, I entered the United States Marine Corp. The war in Vietnam was at full scale then, so I figured that's where I would be sent, but to my surprise I was sent to Iwakuni, Japan instead and spent a year at the Marine Corps Air Station.
Later, my son Dave Jr. would spend 9 years in the Marines and now my grandson Josh is doing his 2nd tour of duty as a grunt in the Marines over in Iraq.
After being honorably discharged from the Marines, I came home and then moved to New Orleans. My intention was to get into the Merchant Marines and get aboard a merchant ship to see the world. I had an uncle that was an officer on a sulpher tanker so he helped me get all my paperwork in order to ship out.
There was a recession in the early '70's so the union hall was full of people waiting to get a job aboard a ship. I got a construction job to hold me over till a job came up.
While waiting for a job on a ship, I ended up staying in construction and learning the carpentry trade. I worked as a carpenter in the union doing a lot of work on oil refineries and other businesses along the Mississippi River. While living in New Orleans, I also worked for a company that did restorations in the French Quarter. Here I had the opportunity to work on restoring a sugar cane plantation home along the river.
After moving back to Massachusetts in the late '70's I began working for myself doing a lot of remodeling, additions, and home building. I sub-contracted with a number of fence companies over the years, which eventually led me to starting Makela Fence.
In 1986, I moved to Whitinsville, Massachusetts with my wife of 26 years, Nancy and my family of three children: Dave Jr., Sara and Daniel. I now have 10 grandchildren. Nancy currently helps run the administrative side of Makela Fecnce
I love all sports especially baseball and I watch most every Red Sox game that I can. Football is my second choice, and of course I'm an avid Pats fan.
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With more than 35 years of fencing experience, family owned Makela Fence provides vinyl, ornamental aluminum, chain link, and wood fences to Worcester and the surrounding areas. Makela Fence is both licensed and insured.