CHERNEY, Richard Arley 1912-2004

CHERNEY, HELM, RUNFT, JOHNSON, BERWALD

Posted By: Diane Scott (email)
Date: 9/13/2010 at 11:04:25

Richard Arley Cherney, 92, of Battle Creek, passed away Wednesday October 6, 2004 at his residence.
He was born June 25, 1912 in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of Emil and Arley (Helm) Cherney. Richard grew up in Waterloo, and worked in the area until he enlisted in the Army in 1942. He served in the Medical Corp during W W II in England and France, rising to the rank of Captain, before his discharge in 1945.
In 1941 he married the former Eunice Runft in Reinbeck, Iowa and they were married for over 56 years when she preceded him in death in December of 1997.
Mr. Cherney moved to Battle Creek in 1958 and was the former City Assessor for the City of Battle Creek; Equalization Director for Calhoun County and from 1970 until his retirement in 1994 was the president of Cherney & Associates, Inc., a commercial real estate appraisal firm. During his career, Mr. Cherney became the second Battle Creek Member Appraisal Institute (MAI), the highest appraiser designation attainable. He also compiled the first dictionary of appraisal and commercial real estate terms ever published.
Surviving are three children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; son: Charles (Mary) Cherney, grandchildren: Katrina (Bruce) Watkins and Alex (Brandy) Cherney along with their two children, Merideth and Jacob; son: Max Cherney of Cleveland, Ohio and his children, Bill Cherney and Tina (Todd) Soper, along with their two children, Richard and Tori; daughter: Carma (Ernie) Gargaro of Beverly Hills, Michigan and their two children, Kellie (Jeff) Yost and Patricia; many nieces, nephews and one sister-in-law.
He was also preceded in death by his parents and four siblings: Vernell Johnson, Victorine “Queen” Berwald, Milford Cherney and Max Cherney.
He enjoyed reading and traveling. In his later years, he sponsored many family trips for children and grandchildren to places such as Jamaica, Cancun and Myrtle Beach where he enjoyed such things as ?swimming with the dolphins? at age 88.
Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. Jeffrey S. Carlson of the First Presbyterian Church officiating.
A private interment will be held at Fort Custer National Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home after 10:00 a.m. today and the family will be present to receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. this evening.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Lifespan, which was very helpful to Richard during the past few years.
The family would also like to thank his two wonderful caregivers, Vicki Wolthuis and June Bielby, who kept him very active and loved in his later years.
Arrangements by Richard A. Henry Funeral Home

Battle Creek obits: October 8, 2004