Anke Wiechmann Cheney

ANKE WIECHMANN CHENEY MANASSAS- Anke Cheney, 71, died peacefully in her home in Manassas, listening to her wedding song (Air Supply's Now and Forever) with her daughter by her side. She was born 9 September 1951 in Bremen, West Germany, the daughter of Hans Ludwig and Anneliese (Kruse) Wiechmann. Anke immigrated to the US with her parents in 1954. They lived in Alexandria, VA before settling into Nokesville, VA in 1962. A member of the first 8th grade class in the brand new Brentsville District High School, Anke was graduated from Brentsville in 1969. While at Brentsville she began her behind the scenes politics journey, heading the Brentsville branch of the Teenage Republicans. As the managing editor of the school yearbook, she discovered a talent and love for sales, which would later lead to one of the most important and best moments of her life. Following graduation, she briefly attended James Madison College, where she studied economics. After just a year, Anke left to pursue other opportunities and interests. Her interest in making the world a better place continued throughout her life, taking her across the US and Europe as a political advisor and consultant, working with numerous local and national political campaigns. Some of her favorite memories came from her time spent as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations International Youth Year events in 1985. After her daughter was born in 1987, Anke stepped away from politics and back towards her other love of sales. In 1993, she was working selling water treatment systems, when the office secretary decided that she needed to go on a specific sales call. It was on that call that Anke met the man she knew immediately to be her soul mate, Steven Cheney. She sold him a whole house system, and eventually, he sold her his heart. They married on 8 June 1996. The rest, as they say, is history. Anke was a kind and caring individual, who constantly put others before herself, whether it was spending countless hours campaigning for the right candidate for the job or taking in young people as if they were her own. Anke was predeceased by her father and mother. She is survived by her husband, Steven Jon Cheney, her daughter, Katrina Erika Wiechmann, and two sons James Michael Cheney (Willow) and Brian Layne Cheney. Additionally, she is survived by her sisters, Astrid Anders (Burke), Kirsten Wiechmann, and Kristina Ferrell (DeWayne); brother, Lars Erik Wiechmann; nephews, Jon Erik Wiechmann, Justin Ferrell, and Alexander Anders; niece, Jessica Wiechmann; grandchildren, Landon, Michael, Greyson, Lillian, Jon, and David. A viewing will be held on Thursday 3 August at Pierce Funeral Home (9609 Center Street) in Manassas, VA at 5pm. A service of remembrance will be held Friday 4 August also at Pierce at 11am. Afterwards an internment and graveside service will be at Leeds Chapel Cemetery (4332 Leeds Manor Road) in Markham, VA, where Anke will be laid to rest alongside her parents.

Anke Wiechmann Cheney

September 9, 1951 - July 18, 2023