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Jean Valentine Cahill, of Winona Lake, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in the care of Grace Village Health Care, Winona Lake. She lived a life defined by service, education and most of all faith. Having finished her earthly journey after 97 years, Jean is now rejoicing in her heavenly home.
Born in Plainfield, N.J., on June 30, 1928, Jean was the beloved only daughter of Ada Corliss Henion and Adam Valentine, raised alongside her four brothers. On Aug. 14, 1948, she married her best friend and love of her life, Rev. John “Jack” Allen Cahill. Jean and Jack were blessed with 70 years of marriage, four children and multiple generations of grand and great-grandchildren. After a long, full life together, Jack passed away on March 30, 2019.
Jean earned her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and spent many years inspiring students as a health and P.E. teacher while gracefully balancing her role as a beloved pastor’s wife. Always willing to serve where needed, she later found immense joy driving school buses and eventually became named to the position of transportation supervisor at Heritage Christian School in Indianapolis. Jean’s career also included serving others as an office manager at Minirth-Meier Clinic and as the church secretary at Grace Chapel in Colorado. She always looked back fondly on her college years at Wheaton College and was proud that she and her close friend teamed up to win the State Badminton Championship.
She supported her husband, Rev. Jack, serving the Lord in pastorates in Ortonville, Minn., and Carmel, Ind. They moved to Englewood, Colo., where they were members of Grace Chapel for many years. They attended Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church after a final move to Winona Lake in 2014. She was a longtime member of the Winona Literary Club and was also actively involved in music her entire life singing solos, singing in choirs and planning choral events.
A wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Jean will be lovingly remembered by her four children: Debbie (Dr. Bill) Katip, Prattville, Ala.; Jeff (Laurie) Cahill, San Clemente, Calif.; Tim (Terri) Cahill, Lansing, Kan.; Susie (Randy) Franklin, McKinney, Texas; 18 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and two more on the way. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Rev. Jack Cahill; great-grandson, Aiden William Katip; and four brothers: Douglas, Floyd, David and Norman Valentine.
A memorial service celebrating Jean’s life will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 27 in The Chapel of Grace Village Retirement Community, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, officiated by Chaplain Bryan Benjamin. Friends and family may visit an hour prior to the service from noon to 1 p.m. Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth-Byers Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.
She will be laid to rest at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, Colo.
Memorial donations may be directed to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 766, Winona Lake, IN 46590-0766; or to Grace Village Retirement Community, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, IN 46590.
Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com
