Isaac Melvin Chaney

Isaac M. “Ike” Chaney, age 91, of Centerville, OH, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 7, 2024, surrounded by his family.  For the past several years, Ike was a resident of Elmwood Assisted Living of Washington Township and then Sycamore Springs Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (previously Sycamore Glen Nursing and Rehabilitation). 

Ike was born February 18, 1932, in College Corner, IN, and was the seventh of ten children of Dahlia (Durbin) Chaney and Jesse Chaney.  In his youth, Ike attended St. Ann’s Catholic School and Hamilton Catholic High School (now Badin High School), both in Hamilton, Ohio.  He and four of his six brothers were star football players, and are present in Badin’s legacy football record archives, where he was recognized as an All-American Athlete.  Although he was being scouted by Ohio State University and University of Cincinnati (and accepted full scholarship to UC) during his senior year, Ike was drafted into the Army out of high school, and spent two years in Germany during the Korean conflict.  When he was released from Service, he attended the University of Dayton where he majored in Business Administration and played for the football team.  While there, he met his wife, Cylvia Kovach, and the two were married in 1958.

Ike was an usher at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Dayton until the late ‘70s, and was an active member of their Knights of Columbus Council and of the UD Flyers Club.  He participated in several bowling leagues over the years and loved golfing when he could.  Ike worked for more than 30 years for VanDyne Crotty, Inc., beginning as a route salesman and retiring as a night plant manager in 1997.  

In his later years Ike was an avid lottery scratch-off player. He relished his regular neighborhood coffee club meetings at his favorite McDonalds, where he met with several other similarly retired gentlemen every morning for a daily breakfast coffee.  Ike knew store personnel by name, and they him, at the bakeries and delis of the four Kroger stores by his house. He made regular rounds there daily to catch up with each of them and to partake in the free tastings! 

Above all, Ike cherished time spent with his family. Until age and various infirmities caught up with them, he and his other retired siblings got together every Wednesday for outings and lunch across the tri-state (with an occasional bit of gambling!).  In addition to all that, he was a proud Dad, Grandparent, and Great-grandparent and loved to be present at athletic events, weddings, graduations and other family get-togethers; those were always his favorite.  As you can tell, family meant the world to him. 

Ike was preceded in death by his loving wife of 27 years, Cylvia; his first-born son, Michael; his brothers Jesse Jr, Pete, Joe, Pat; and sisters Rita, Mossie, and Agnes. 

He leaves behind his children, Kent (Debbie), Gina, and Debra; his grandchildren, Nate (Megan), and Matt; step-grandchildren, Bill, Joe, and Tina; great- grandchildren, Tori and Nate Jr; brothers John and Claude; and many other extended family and friends.  He loved and was much loved by his family.  He was the best example of unconditional love and loyalty that any of us could have ever wished for; that is his true legacy.  All his family and friends were witness to this.  He will truly be missed, but we know we will see him again.

Ike’s family would like to thank the staff at Sycamore Springs Skilled Nursing as well as VITAS Hospice for the excellent care they provided for him. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Monday, January 15, 2024, at Church of the Incarnation Parish, 7415 Far Hills Ave. Centerville, OH 45459, with a visitation being held an hour prior starting at 10am. A livestream will be available through the Church’s website (https://incarnation-parish.com/incarnation-live-stream/). Inurment at Woodland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to American Legion Post 5985, 700 Kentshire Dr. Kettering, OH 45440-4248, in Ike’s name.