About Theodore (Ted) C. Cheney, Jr.
Bio / Background:
Ted Cheney was born at Milwaukee Children‘s Hospital and grew up in Elm Grove and Wauwatosa, WI.
Education: Graduated Wauwatosa High School in 1952, Northwestern Prep School in 1954 and the US Naval Academy in 1958.
Family: Married Susan “Susie” Holt in 1958 – a blessed partnership that produced 6 wonderful children and 13 grandchildren. “Susie” passed away in 1997 and then married Mary Voell Patek in 1999.
Military Service: Naval Reservist 1951 – 1954; US Navy (Naval Academy and active duty aboard two ships) 1954 – 1962; Naval Reservist 1962 – 1978 (Command of Surface Division 9–215).
Business Career:
Ted Cheney joined the W. E. Cheney Company in 1962 as Sales Manager, ultimately becoming President of The Cheney Co. (name changed in 1969), part Owner by 1971 and sole Owner by 1975.
Sold the company in 1987; started Cheney Travel in 1987– ceased operations in 2001, started Cheney Building Systems in 1988 – ceased operations in 1992, started Access Elevator in 1992 – sold the company in 2002.
Sales Consultant for Access Elevator until 2019. Retired from the business world in 2019, becoming active full-time on operation of Aslan’s Warehouse, a nonprofit organization providing household goods for the needy, coordinating these activities with many other non-profits, including BASICS (Brothers And Sisters In Christ Serving), Milwaukee Rescue Mission, Port of Missions, Adullam, Friend of Sinners Church, Hope Street, Care Net, MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary and others.
In late 2020, Ted was asked to return to Access Elevator, as a part time employee. Unfortunately, COVID proved to be a hindrance, and once again “retired.”
However, calls regarding servicing and/or replacement of The Cheney Co. products continued to come in and Cheney Elevators became very active in consulting with architects, building owners and contractors regarding accessibility elevators and lifts, gaining a unique reputation for solving unusual problems in that field.
Click on the image above for more enlightening information regarding the history of the chairlift
Church/Faith Activities:
Our Saviors Lutheran (Oconomowoc, WI): Bible Study Teacher and Deacon, served as Vice Chairman of the Congregation.
Kettle Moraine Evangelical Free Church (Delafield, WI): Trustee, the church‘s first building was constructed during Ted‘s term.
Elmbrook Church (Brookfield, WI): Currently a volunteer receptionist and on the Coffee Team, having served in the past as a Bible Study Leader and member of the Prayer Team and a founding member of the Mission Cafe Team.