Jeffrey John Cheney

We are heartbroken to share that Jeffrey John Cheney departed this earth and entered into the glorious presence of our Heavenly Father on December 16, 2025, following a 27 yearlong battle with throat cancer. Jeff was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who loved the Lord.

Jeff was born on July 30th, 1953, in Detroit, Michigan to John and Agnes Cheney. He lived in Michigan, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, Illinois, Hawaii, New York and Florida during his school aged years, graduating from Melbourne High School in 1971. Jeff joined the Air Force right out of high school and spent the next ten years in Cyprus, Thailand and Germany. In 1981, Jeff graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering. It was in Knoxville where he met the love of his life, Diane. Jeff was commissioned as an officer in the Air Force and sent to Eglin AFB, Florida where he and Diane married and began their wonderful journey together. Jeff loved his time in Florida making many lasting friendships and was even elected President of the Company Grade Officers Council leading over 1,000 lieutenants and officers. It was in Forida where Jeff and Diane were blessed with their first child, Katherine Dawn. Jeff was soon transferred to Offitt AFB Nebraska where they were blessed with a son, Jeffrey John Jr. While in Nebraska with two young children Jeff completed his MBA at the University of Nebraska. In 1991, he was transferred to Fort Worth TX where he decided to put down roots for his family leading to his retirement in 1997 from the Air Force as a Major after 27 years of service. From 1997 to 2015 Jeff led an incredible government service career with the Dept of Defense in both Ohio and Texas until his full retirement as a GS-15. He then began his most cherished position of “Pops”, becoming a grandfather in 2015, 2018, and 2021.

Shortly after his military retirement in 1997 he underwent his first of many surgeries for stage 4 throat cancer and thus began his long battle against throat cancer, tongue cancer, and diabetes. By 2015, after another major surgery, Jeff was left with a permanent feeding tube which he lived with for the rest of his life. In 2020, additional tongue and throat cancer took his last remaining ability for verbal speech. Throughout it all, Jeff remained resilient, never complaining, but rather praising the Lord for the “extra” time he received after 1997. He was amazed at every graduation, wedding, and birth that he never thought he'd live to see.

Jeff spent his final days with his wife of 43 years, Diane. He enjoyed going to the gun range with his son and son in law, Justin Rogers, sharing his wisdom with his kids and grandkids, and continuously learning about the Lord with his neighborhood Bible study.

Jeff was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents and his niece, Jennifer Feddon. He is survived by his wife, Diane, his son, Johnny, his daughter Katie Rogers and her husband, Justin, his grandchildren Griffin Dean Rogers, Barrett John Rogers and Hazel Louise Rogers, his sisters Joan McCaffrey, Jan Goldin and Joy Dannenhoffer and his nieces and nephews, Jessica Shunk, Bo Goyette, Krystal Paulson, Dalton Dannenhoffer, and Julie Feddon.