Marion Leslie KERCHEVAL

BINGHAM, KERCHEVAL, BEMAN, CHEYNEY, WEST, JENSEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:07:03

May 13, 1924 ---- December 17, 2015

Marion Leslie Kercheval, who preferred being called "Mike", passed away December 17, 2015 in Grand Junction, CO. He was 91.

Mike was born on May 13, 1924 to Frank "Clinton" and Mary "Maude" (Bingham) Kercheval of Rowan, Iowa, and graduated from Rowan High School at the age of 16. He was a state spelling-bee champion and mathematics wizard, and attended St. Ambrose College on a mathematics scholarship. In 1943 he enlisted in the US Army, attended OCS and served as a First Lieutenant, Army Intelligence Officer in Europe during the final years of WWII. Following the war Mike attended Iowa State and the University of Iowa where he earned a doctorate in dentistry and a masters degree in orthodontics. There he also met and married Jane Beman Cheyney in 1951. In 1952, Mike and Jane moved to Grand Junction, CO where Dr. Kercheval launched an orthodontic career that spanned thirty years and thousands of patients. A passionate global traveler until his final days, Mike visited over 100 countries, often including his children in those adventures.

Following the death of Jane in 1985, Mike married Eileen (West) Jensen in 1993 who shared his passion for people and places. Eileen passed away in 2014 at the age of 90.

Mike was an enthusiastic Rotarian, rarely missing a Rotary meeting anywhere around the world, and counted his fellow Rotarians as among his closest friends.

Mike and Jane had five children together and upon his marriage to Eileen, her four children, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren added to his joy of family.

Mike is survived by his children, Michael (Dana) of Princeton, NJ, Kristin (Ron) West of Palisade, CO, Jeffrey (Terry) of Aurora, CO and Charles (Linda) of Parker, CO, as well as nine grandchildren. A daughter, Heidi, predeceased him in 1984.

A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on January 9, 2016 at the First Presbyterian Church in Grand Junction, CO. In keeping with Mike's passion for people and places, contributions may be made to Amigos de las Americas, 5618 Star Lane, Houston TX 77057.

http://www.callahan-edfast.com/obituaries/Marion-Kercheval/#!/Obituary