James Chekoff

My husband and I grew up together with Cheko in the same neighborhood. We cut school together , drank together run around together. I Use to take his 1966 442 Oldsmobile from the parking lot where he worked till I got caught one day lol. Boy he was mad at me. Talked to him on Dec 13 was glad he was out of hospice. Told him something else would probably kill him that the cancer wasn't coming back. Cheko laughed. I will miss that laugh. Cheko we love ya and see you when. David and Diana Leffler

Cheko was a friend for decades. Remembering many parties, vacations, trips and daily life shared. I am missing the many phone calls daily from him now - sharing our news and laughing about life.

How do any of us go on without the "sunshine" in our lives that was Jim. I've known him for about 40 years, met him playing cards and loved and cherished his humor, love and spirit from day one! We became fast friends. We didn't see each other for a number of years, I had a son and my life went in a different direction. But Jim was the type of friend you didn't have to see or talk to daily to remain close. We met up at a euchre tournament about 5 years ago and re-kindled our friendship like it never paused. He told me those Joel Osteen jokes every Sunday with laughter and pride, I loved his laughter and his irreverent (at times) sense of humor, because we "got" each other and made one another laugh. When I learned he'd had surgery and was not doing well I visited him at least once a week after work, and cried when he was non-responsive and prayed that he would recover. Here's my funny (at my expense) story for Jim: He had finally recovered in the hospital enough to be moved to a convalescence center on the south side on Emerson Avenue, again I trekked there, never knowing how I might find his heath (I was nearly ready to retire because my eyesight was failing due to macular degeneration). The first visit, he did not look well at all and was bedfast. The second visit the nurse told me he had probably been wheeled to the cafeteria for lunch. My eyesight being so impaired, I went to "look" for him. I found a man sitting at a table who was the same size and shape as Jim in a wheelchair, having difficulty with his meal, I pulled up a chair, nearly in tears because I thought my dear friend was in such horrible shape. I started cutting up his food and started to feed him, suddenly I hear Jim's voice calling me...he was almost rolling with laughter that I had sat down to feed some strange man, thinking it was him. He watched me do that for awhile...Ladies and Gentlemen....that was Jim!! I will miss you, my love, until we meet again! My prayers to his children and grandchild, who he loved with all of his being!!

Uncle Jim will be forever missed. Most of my memories of him are when I was a kid, my mom would always cook on Sundays and invite him, Aunt Debbie and the kids over for dinner. He would always tell mom how much he loved her food (esp. her Macedonian beans), end up taking a nap on the couch and mom would package the leftovers to send home with him. He always made us laugh, telling us silly jokes and stories. I remember that he had an 8 track player in his car and I thought that was really cool. Sadly as I got older and moved away my time spent with him was less but more recently I had the opportunity to see him several times and I'm thankful for that. My kids were both able to spend some time getting to know him and always smile when his name is mentioned. He will be forever in our hearts and haunts as he reminded me a few weeks ago on the phone. My heart goes out to you Brian, Kendra, Adam and Zavian and I'm sorry I'm not with you at his memorial service. Memory Eternal.

Jim was a good friend for many years, we had many laugh's together and traveled from Canada to Mexico, what fun did we have and the scenery that we got to see along the way. He knew how much we meant to each other and how much I cared for his family. I will miss him the rest of my life. The Lord to watch over him and his family.

Jim was a great friend. I will never forget a few years ago when he told me he was proud of me for staying on my current job at United Airlines for 5-6 years. He was a great cook and always invited all his friends to his dinner parties. I will truly miss calling him to talk about my job and life in general . May you rest in peace my friend ! Love always Wayne