John Edward Kaley II

John Edward Kaley, II Battle Creek John Edward Kaley, II, 35, died Saturday, November 7, 2009, at his home in Battle Creek. He was born June 17, 1974, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to John E. and Nancy A. (Swanty) Kaley. He was a graduate of St. John's Preparatory School, Collegeville, MN and a study program at the Gymnasium, Benediktiner Stift, Melk, Austria. John had been employed in several capacities in the restaurant industry and, at the time of his death, was on leave from the California Grill at the Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World. Since a toddler, he had loved downhill skiing, racing on the slopes in the Midwest, Austria and wherever there was a good snow base. His second passion was hot-air ballooning, crewing and floating aloft with the winds. He had been involved in the sport for 15 years at events in the Midwest and annually at the Albuquerque, NM, International Balloon Fiesta. He also was a strong supporter of community service and assistance for homeless animals. Surviving are his parents; his aunt, Mary Ellen Hiebert of Mt. Pleasant, SC; cousins, Holmes L. Hiebert of Blue Bell, PA, John D. Hiebert of Minneapolis, MN, and Mary Phillips of Hanahan, SC; and his favorite felines, Scorpio and Napoleon. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the B.C.H.S. Cancer Care Medication Fund, 300 North Avenue, Battle Creek, MI 49017 or for bone marrow transplant patient assistance at Indiana University Hospital, c/o Douglas Armbruster Memorial Fund, Fairhaven Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 6396, Fishers, IN 46038. Arrangements are by Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.