Sondra Jean (Long) Chesky

Sondra Chesky (1934 - 2015)

Obituary

Sondra Jean Long Chesky of Halstead, Kan. passed away on Sept. 9, 2015. She died peacefully at home, surrounded by family.

Sondra was born in Newton, Kan. on April 6, 1934. She was the second daughter of Frank E. and Lydia Long of Newton. She graduated in 1952 from Newton High School, where she played clarinet in the band and orchestra. Sondra attended the University of Kansas, where she earned a bachelor's degree in microbiology in 1956. While attending KU, she married Frank Holmes Chesky of Sterling, Kan. in 1954. She worked as a research technician in the KU pathology lab 1956-1959 while Frank attended medical school at KU Medical Center.

During their 61-year-marriage, the Cheskys lived in Lawrence, Kan., Kansas City, Kan.; Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas; Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Wolters, Mineral Wells, Texas; Silver Springs, Md; Fort Louis, Wash.; Ford Ord, Calif.; Topeka, Kan., and Houston, Texas. They retired in Halstead in 2003.

Sondra worked as a homemaker and mother, lab technician and medical office manager at various times throughout her life. She served the Harvey County community volunteering for chorale groups and organizations that advanced musical education, and she sang in the choir and served in the Christian Women's Fellowship at the First Christian Church of Newton. She was also active in the Club Amicarum and the KU Alumni Association.

Sondra is survived by her husband; son Robert Chesky of Halstead; son Tyler Chesky and his wife, Kristina Thielen, of Halstead; daughter and son-in-law Sonya and Rick Hove of Durham, N.C.; daughter Laurel Chesky and her husband, Eric Leversen, of Austin, Tex., and nine grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister and brother-in-law Lydia Jeanette (L.J.) and Max Utz of Newton; and infant son Kent Allan Chesky.

A public memorial service for Sondra will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the First Christian Church of Newton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Sondra's name to the First Christian Church of Newton or the Kansas Learning Center for Health in care of Kaufman Funeral Home, Halstead, KS.