On April 29, 2021, the Lord called our husband, father and friend Stephen Cheechalk home. He is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Nancy, daughter Colleen and her husband, Todd, granddaughter Allyson and her husband, Tony, as well as brother and sister-in-law Wayne and Rita Rogers, cousins Loretta and Jack Curtin, as well as many nieces and nephews Steve was born in the village of Johnson City, and lived the entirety of his 80 years there. However, home was the Lakeview Wildlife Management Area and marsh, which surrounded our secluded summer home on Lake Ontario. Steve was an avid sportsman who loved to hunt and fish, but his real joy in the outdoors was simply being there, and doing his part to protect and preserve the wild spaces where he felt most at peace. He was a skilled tradesman, gifted at anything and everything mechanical, but also the lost art of working with wood and metals to make beautiful, useful and unique heirlooms we all treasure. He was the beloved fixer of bikes and toys for the neighborhood children, fan at the many softball games at Virginia Ave. park, and he loved to wander the village with his best friend and canine companion, Bucky. Our family is so grateful to the staff at UHS, and to his caregivers at Absolut Endicott for the care they gave Steve during his last days.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 6:00 pm Wednesday at the Hopler & Eschbach Funeral Home, 483 Chenango St. Binghamton. A memorial service will be held at 6:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council at www.nyswrc.org.
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