As received from the Jacobson Funeral Home. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
Allen Keith Cheney, age 77, of Marquette, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, February 20, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.
Born on January 5, 1948, in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, Keith was the son of Lawrence and Ruth (Patterson) Cheney. He graduated from Chief Logan High School in 1965 and went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree from Shippensburg State College in 1969. On May 8, 1971, he married the love of his life, Della Olsen, in Yeagertown, PA, beginning a devoted partnership that spanned over five decades.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard in Chesterfield, Pennsylvania and served 3 years until his honorable discharge in 1972 when he became an FBI agent. Keith dedicated his career to serving his country through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He began his work with the FBI in Washington, D.C., in the Identification Division (1969-1972), before becoming a Special Agent in the Newark, NJ Division (1972-1979). He later served in the Detroit, MI Division (1979-1990) and concluded his distinguished career at the Marquette, MI office, retiring in 1999. After retiring from the FBI Keith worked at Gander Mountain Sports in the firearms department and as an employee of AKAL providing contracted court room security to the U.S. Marshall’s Service until 2005.
Beyond his career, Keith found great joy in the outdoors. He was an avid fisherman and hunter, and he had a deep appreciation for woodworking and reading. He cherished time spent with his family and embraced the simple pleasures of life.
Keith is survived by his beloved wife, Della “Kiki” Cheney of Marquette; his children, Melissa (Jason Larson) Boniface of Marquette, Todd (Jessica) Cheney of Marquette, Bryan (Rachel Tiziani) Cheney of Negaunee, MI, and Erin (Andrew) Gorecki of Traverse City, MI; his sister, Paula (Larry) Miller of Keene, NH; and his cherished grandchildren, Mary, Zoe, Gibson, Max, Oliver, Hattie, Larry, Nora, and Hayes.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws Erling and Gertrude Olsen, brother-in-laws Vernon, Morgan and Dennis Olsen and sister-in-laws Judy Van Landuyt, Lori Starkel and Mary Young. Keith was also preceded in death by his grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles.
The family would like to thank Dr. Sara Meehan, Laura Leckelt and the nurses from UPHS Respiratory Medicine, PA Carey Espinoza, his primary care doctor and Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice for assistance in Keith’s care, specifically, his nurse, Michael Crocker.
Keith will be cremated and per his wishes there will be no funeral. A family burial will take place at Pequaming Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by Jacobson Funeral Home.
Friends and loved ones are invited to sign Keith’s guestbook and share condolences at www.jacobsonfuneralhome.com.
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