Eileen Cheek, age 101 passed away on September 23, 2025, at Chelsea Retirement Community in Chelsea, Michigan. She was named Dorothea Eileen Hoff, but to friends and family was always known as Eileen. She was born September 24, 1923, near New Madison, Ohio to Harry and Hester Marie Hoff. She was one of 5 children. She married the love of her life, Forrest Cheek, her Navy guy, on June 24, 1945.
She worked at several different jobs including working at a greenhouse, and a job making reflective signs and screen printed cards. Perhaps her most interesting job was during WWII, when she worked at Kilgore’s Manufacturing in Westerville, Ohio. Her job there was to put gunpowder in fuses for bombs. She attended Otterbein College for a year and then transferred to the Ohio State University where she graduated with a degree in Home Economics Education. She and Forrest started their family in 1947.
She was a devoted wife and mother. She was a very kind and generous person who always had time for a kind word or a smile. She adored her family and they adored her and were blessed with her presence for many, many years. She loved to travel and was able to visit all 50 states. She enjoyed reading books, knitting, gardening, painting, and listening to music. In a short autobiography written when she was 88 years old, she had this advice. “Keep busy, smile and laugh often, help others and love your family with all your heart.”
Eileen is survived by her 4 daughters, Carol Mydloski of Taylor, MI, Margaret (Paul) Brown of Evart, MI, Janet Carmichael of Battle Creek, MI, and Brenda (Kevin)Myers of Milan, MI. She also was blessed with 6 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-granddaughter. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews and their families.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Her ashes will be interred next to her beloved husband, Forrest, at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, MI. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the charity of your choice. During her lifetime she contributed to many charities such as American Red Cross and others.
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