John F. Kiley

Orchard — John Franklin Kiley, 91, of Orchard, died Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh.

Celebration of life visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Monday, May 26, 2025 at the Orchard Community Center in Orchard.

Celebration of life services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at the Orchard United Methodist Church in Orchard.

Private family burial will be in the Orchard Cemetery in Orchard. 

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Orchard is in charge of the arrangements.

John was born on July 27, 1933 to John and Ernie Mae “Peggy” (Vroman) Kiley at Kanawha, Iowa. He attended country school and graduated from Vernon Consolidated School in 1954.  

He was united in marriage to Barbara (Welding) Cheatum on Jan. 12, 1983 in Yankton, SD. 

John moved out to Nebraska where he and a friend from Iowa started the Orchard Cheese Factory. 

After selling the cheese factory, he kept himself busy by working various jobs such as road construction in Nebraska, Orchard Fertilizer plant and Gordon Drayton Elevator.  

John was a member of the Orchard United Methodist Church and the Orchard Community Club.  

He enjoyed being with family, playing cards, golfing, carbels and collecting coins. He loved to watch any kind of sport and followed the grandkids activities.

John is survived by his wife Barbara Kiley of Orchard; six children  Brenda (Tom) Dempster of Cave Creek, AZ, Julie (Kurt) Effken of Cook, Cheryl (Jim) Schwager of Orchard, and Glen (Tammy) Cheatum, all of Orchard, Terry (Keri) Cheatum of Lincoln and Dana (Rachael) Cheatum of Page; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

     He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers Leonard Kiley, Duane Kiley, Ernie Kiley and Kenneth Kiley.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.snidermemorial.com.