Chaplain, mentor, advocate for at-risk youth dies at 64

To many people — especially the many young people he helped — Jeff Cheeseborough was known as "Cheeseburger," "Cheesy" or simply "Cheese."

"That's what we affectionately called him," Candlelight Christian Fellowship senior pastor Paul Van Noy said Wednesday. "Friendly, outgoing. Everyone loved Jeff. That's for sure."

Known for his big smile, big personality and even bigger heart, Cheeseborough, of Post Falls, died Monday morning. He was 64.

"He waged a battle with his ailing body for over eight years," Van Noy said. "He served tirelessly until the end. Literally, his last board meeting was two weeks ago. You couldn't hardly keep him down."

Cheeseborough served as a chaplain for four decades and founded Juvenile Justice Outreach in 1993, through which he touched the lives of tens of thousands of troubled youths. He was a part of the Candlelight staff for more than 15 years.

"The most important thing that Jeff would want people to know is that when things seem hopeless, there is always hope in the Lord," Van Noy said. "Jeff was a man on a mission to provide others with hope — especially young people that, for whatever reason, got themselves into trouble."

He said Cheeseborough worked with kids who had been abused mentally, sexually and physically, and who often experienced depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. But no matter what they'd been through, they always felt safe with Cheese.

"He had credibility," Van Noy said. "He never shared a story with a name, so the kids were protected. It was really amazing to see how many young people — literally thousands of young people — he influenced for the gospel and equipped them with tools for life.

“Jeff was a lover of souls," he continued. "Everyone that knows Jeff will remember him as a person that was the animated life of the party. He brought hope and encouragement to everyone he touched."

Cheeseborough was the juvenile chaplain and provided youth advocacy and community outreach for all Kootenai County Juvenile Services — including the District 1 Juvenile Detention Center, Juvenile Diversion and Juvenile Probation — for more than 24 years.

Kootenai County Juvenile Probation director Debbie Nadeau said during his tenure, he provided more than 25,000 hours of service and shared more than $763,000 in goods, services and donations to support these programs. In this position, he provided spiritual and moral guidance to at-risk juveniles and their families while encouraging and maintaining supportive community relationships.

"What distinguished Jeff from other committed professionals was his ability to establish rapport with young people and communicate with them on their level, in a non-judgmental way," Nadeau said. "Jeff shared his wisdom and guidance with humor. These are the initial building blocks of a trust relationship that many young people have never known."

Cheeseborough was always ready to field crisis calls and texts from the youths and families he served. He was also a spiritual resource and comfort for juvenile probation staff members through the years when they dealt with difficulties in their lives, Nadeau said. He assisted with mentoring programs, helped establish junior achievement programs, developed life skills groups and worked with students in local schools.

"Jeff was always willing to speak at community organizations on our behalf, and had a large network of donors and supporters to turn to when our needs arose," she said. "Whether it was food basket donations at Thanksgiving, gift cards and support at Christmas, backpacks and school supplies in the fall or specific needs such as beds, dressers or clothing, he always found a way to come through with donations to meet our clients' needs.

"In 2017, Jeff received the Idaho Juvenile Justice Association - District 1 Commitment to Service Award for his dedication, leadership and teamwork, and was truly the most deserving of that distinction," Nadeau continued. "We were blessed to have him in our lives and in our community for so many years. We will all continue the work he supported to honor him, and his legacy will live on in all our hearts."

Kootenai County Juvenile Detention Center director JT Taylor said he and Cheeseborough started with Kootenai County at the same time in January 1996.

"His unique personality was unlike anyone else that I have ever met," Taylor said. "He connected in a way that transcends the average man of faith. With most offenders lacking a stabilizing adult and/or authority figure in their life, he found the time and energy to answer the call, without fail. His passion to show youth that through [a] relationship with God, family and others, [it] was a way to lift themselves up and into a better situation. He wore his love for everyone — especially youth — proudly on his sleeve for all to witness and hopefully to pay forward. His impact on the youth, system, staff and myself is immeasurable and has set an almost unachievable standard for all to follow."

On a personal note, Taylor said, Cheeseborough "even officiated my marriage with his same faithful and extraordinary delivery of his words of wisdom that he received through his faith." Taylor said when Cheese received his Commitment to Service Award, although he was honored to receive it, the only award that mattered to him was seeing the young people he helped grow in their service to God and community.

Kootenai County District 1 Juvenile Detention Center assistant director Linda Hoss said Cheeseborough discussed with youths such issues as self-respect, making good choices and being positive members in the community.

"He spent a lot of time talking to the boys about what it means to be a man," she said. "His message was consistently, 'No matter what your situation, you are valued and loved.' Jeff worked tirelessly to bring positive role models to the facility to talk with juveniles. He helped juveniles connect with their families, find resources and provide support in any way he could. He performed weddings, funerals, attended graduations and other significant life events for the juveniles he connected with over the years and the juvenile justice staff."

She said he was passionate about getting the community to engage the at-risk youth in whatever capacity he could.

"Over our 24 years working together, we had many conversations about the importance of 'being present' for the juveniles," she said. "I called Jeff many times, at all hours of the day and night, to meet with residents to process their grief over the sudden loss of a family member or friend. He never did not meet that need. Maybe it was his own life experience, his always jovial, practical joking demeanor or maybe his accepting, non-threatening manner; Jeff had the ability to deeply connect and maintain that connection with the at-risk population like no one else. Many times, I heard juveniles ask him, 'Are you a Christian?' His answer was always the same: 'I am a follower of Jesus Christ.'"

"The at-risk juveniles and the juvenile justice system of Kootenai County have lost a steadfast advocate," Hoss said. "He will be greatly missed."