Zachary David Cheeley, 29

Zachary David Cheeley, 29, was born June 29, 1986, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He passed on June 13, 2016, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The cause of death was cardiac arrest.

Zach and his parents moved back to Coeur d’Alene when he was 4 years old. He graduated from Lake City High School in 2004 after attending The Oaks (Spokane), Gonzaga Prep and Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy. Zach participated in debate and ran cross-country. Later, he enjoyed periodically volunteering as a judge for high school debate.

In 2004, Zach enrolled in St. Thomas Aquinas College, then in 2007 transferred to the University of Idaho where he earned his B.A. in philosophy.

Zach loved traveling, art and music, good food, and competitive board and card games. He visited numerous European countries while studying at the University of Amsterdam in 2011 and also spent time in Istanbul. He taught English as a second language (ESL) overseas in both the Republic of Georgia and in Ukraine. He was also employed at Phones Plus Verizon stores in the Coeur d’Alene area.

Many things could be said about Zach, but a list of his favorite things might describe him best.

Lady Philosophy captured his heart at an early age. She motivated his love for academics, literature and understanding the meaning of life. Zach lived for lengthy discussions on the human existence. He played in an evolving game of self-awareness. Here he sought Natasha’s perspective, and together they worked on molding each other’s existential philosophy. His Tumblr quote: “Things Change.”

Zach loved SmartWool and board games, especially Dominion, and got his mom hooked on both. He loved Longhorn barbecue sauce and sriracha sauce, so his family mailed a care package with all that and more to Ukraine for Christmas. Zach loved to roller-skate ... with headphones on and clothes flying. We also acknowledge Zach’s love of shedding his clothes whenever the need arose. Chris and LeeAnn will never forget the day they were hiking abroad two years ago, when suddenly the sun came out and the temperature sky-rocketed. Zach, Natasha, Avery and Augustin undressed to their skivvies. The family christened that the Underwear Hike and have the photos to prove it!

Zach’s grace and fearlessness carried into dancing, wakeboarding and jet-skiing. He danced when nobody was watching, and he cut the wake with no regard for consequences. Zach appeared to live without fear. Recently, he told his godmother Cheri Deters, “I danced the soles right off my shoes last week!” He loved music festivals, especially at The Gorge. He lived in his “Kangaroo-leather 5-fingers,” which he felt everyone should own. And tea tree oil. Tea tree oil was pretty much Zach’s cure for everything skin.

Zach, being a true Cheeley, loved all water activities and he loved tubing with Chris piloting the boat. Nobody can make a tube ride quite as thrilling as his dad. Zach loved “Calvin and Hobbes” — so much that he “borrowed” the complete collection from the family and stored it in his impressive library at “his” (grandparents’) lake cabin. Zach loved the lake cabin. Owned by his grandparents, Zach spent many of his favorite moments as a child and an adult out there. The lack of running water, insulation and A/C, with only a woodstove for heat, really didn’t seem to matter — it was yet another adventure.

Zach was also a teacher. His subjects included English as a second language and life advice. He taught Annaliese to tie her shoes one night when she got left behind because she couldn’t get them tied. He taught several of his brothers how to drive a stick-shift. He was a patient and kind teacher. He cared about people. Zach was a minimalist and didn’t have many resources, but what he had was always readily available when needed, expecting nothing in return.

He loved his turntable and his vinyl records. He loved technology, retro and steampunk. He loved black and gray, always dapper and well-dressed whenever the occasion called for it. A friend commented that Zach had impeccable manners when they were called for — he was kind and considerate and thoughtful of others — a man with a sensitive heart who loved beauty in all forms.

Most of all, Zach loved his family. He loved his grandparents deeply and spent more time with each of them than anyone else. He loved his siblings fiercely: nobody was ever going to harm any of them under Zach’s watch and get away with it. He had their backs and was ready to sacrifice his life for them. He said this recently to Augustin. He trusted no one more than them. Zach loved his mom and dad and knew they were made for each other. He said it all the time.

Zach was fearless, curious, and one of the most generous people you might ever meet. He was unpredictable, opinionated and enigmatic. He had long-lived aspirations to attend law school, because “I am the best debater I’ve ever met.” (Quote, himself). Zach ran, and often skated, to the beat of his own drum. It was a mark of his utmost respect for you if he changed his mind based on your input. He packed an incredible amount of living into his 10,943 days, and when the end did come, he left peacefully and surrounded by his family. God did something special on the day of Zach’s creation.

Zach is the oldest of Chris and LeeAnn Cheeley’s seven children. He is survived by his siblings, Natasha (25), Avery (23), Gabriel (21), Augustin (19), Annaliese (17) and Lucas (13). He is also survived by his grandparents, Betty Cheeley, and Dave and Blanche Kohli; his cousins, Kyle, Lauren and Luke Kohli, Ben and Katie Mogen, and Rachel Mogen Reiswig, Jaimee Cheeley and Grace Cheeley (Tyler Triezenberg). Aunts and uncles include Susan Kohli (Dave Horton), Kim Cheeley (Tom Pagliasotti), Laurie Cheeley and Rob (Noelani) Cheeley. Zach was preceded in death by his uncle, Ken Kohli (1996) and his grandfather, Herbert Larry Cheeley (2012).

The following is one of the many quotes Zach posted on his tumbler: “If your heart is broken, make art with the little pieces.” Zach had rerouted from a broken heart more than once, and we know he would want us to gather together and comfort one another as we grieve our loss of him.

Zach’s funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 18, 2016, at Real Life Ministries, 1866 N. Cecil Road, Post Falls, Idaho. A reception will follow. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. preceding the service on Saturday. Yates Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Eternal Hope, a fund to help girls rescued out of sex-trafficking in Uganda: Eternal Hope, 2525 E. 19th Ave., Spokane, WA 99223. The Cheeley family was scheduled to leave for Uganda this past week to help this ministry.

Please visit Zach’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.