Dane Chaney

Dane G. Chaney, age 59, passed away peacefully in his mountain home on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 in Divide, Colorado.  He was born on December 5, 1958 in Tribune, Kansas to Charles L. Chaney and Margaret V. (Basgall) Chaney.

He was born with blue baby syndrome and was immediately transported to Denver for a blood transfusion, which saved his life. Soon after he was baptized in Sharon Springs, Kansas at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church, which his grandfather, Alexander Basgall, helped to build.

Growing up in the middle of five sisters was tough, but it was the girls who had to fight Dane for bathroom time. But growing up with lots of sisters and hardworking parents had its perks – he learned how to cook and clean, how to work hard, fair and honest, and how to love his family. Some might say he had the biggest heart of them all.

He learned plumbing from his dad while working at C&M Hardware, which was owned by his parents. He worked there throughout high school and continued afterwards. He was a football player and homecoming king at Wallace County High School, where he graduated in 1976.

He married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn A. Wehner, on November 4, 1978 in the same church he was baptized. At the age of 21, Marilyn and Dane bought C&M Hardware and ran it as Sunset True Value. They welcomed their first child and daughter, Janelle Renee on July 21, 1983. After selling Sunset True Value, they moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1985 to help run Pikes Peak True Value. In 1987 they moved to Tulare, California, where he was the manager of FISCO Farm and Home store. During their time in California, they welcomed two sons, Jeron Charles on May 23, 1989 and Joshua Francis on June 11, 1992. He was an active parishioner at St. Aloysius Catholic Church. The family stayed busy with frequent visits from family and friends, taking them to Pismo Beach, Sequoia National Park, Disneyland, and checking out local wineries.

Wanting to be closer to home, they moved to Denver, Colorado in 1994. Dane decided to go back to his plumbing roots and got his Master Plumber’s License. In Colorado, they spent their free time boating at the lake, enjoying picnics in the mountains and attending family gatherings. After 25 years of marriage, Dane and Marilyn divorced, but maintained a healthy relationship to continue raising their two youngest sons.

Dane met Cindy S. Meyer in 2007 with a single rose and a smile. They shared a loving 11 years together filled with dancing the night away at Tom Petty concerts, watching the stars, moon, and meteor showers, and sharing their love of God’s word. In October 2017, Dane sold his house in Colorado Springs to his son Jeron and purchased a cabin in Divide, Colorado. His last days were spent with Cindy working on making it their dream mountain home to grow old together in.

He loved to grill, play cards and horseshoes, root for the Broncos, and collect anything and everything related to eagles. He was incredibly hardworking and always willing to help anyone who needed it. Even through the many challenges of life, he always exuded positivity and knew that God had a plan for him.

Dane was a true nature lover, spending as much time as he could outdoors, whether it was going on mountain hikes, working in the yard, or just enjoying a quiet peaceful evening on the porch or in the hammock to enjoy the tranquillity that God provided around him.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret V. Chaney; and his nephew Marc W. Graham.

He is survived by his father, Charles L. Chaney; three children and son-in-law, Janelle R. (Peter) Kusch, Jeron C. Chaney, and Joshua F. Chaney; his significant other and life partner, Cindy S. Meyer; his five sisters and their husbands, Darletta K. (Denny) Collins, Kathy A. (Gary) Robinson, Rodene L. (Gary) Doty, Teresa J. (Roger) Havel, and Denise M. (Wayne) Weyerman; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Memorial contributions may be designated to the American Eagle Foundation at www.eagles.org/donate, Children’s Hospital Colorado and may be left at the services or mailed Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735, or you can donate blood at your local Red Cross.