John “Jack” Gibbon Cashman was born on Nov. 6, 1931 in Columbus, Neb. He passed away on Jan. 16, 2021 at the age of 89. He was an only child to LaVern and Hazel Cashman. LaVern worked in sales and traveled the country with Hazel and Jack eventually settling in Dallas, Texas. Jack went to high school. He received his BA in political Science at the University of North Texas in Denton, and his JD at the University of Texas in Austin. He was in the U.S. Army from 1956-58. On April 5, 1959 he married Peggy Ruth Matthews at the United Methodist Church of Pittsburg, Texas.
Jack began his career with Sears Roebuck and Company in the Dallas Law Department in 1962. He moved to the corporate office in Chicago in 1966 to become the Director of the Sears Acceptance Corporation. In 1972 he became General Counsel, Sears Midwest Territory and finished his career with Sears at the Sears Tower in Chicago as National Director of Government Affairs. After retiring in 1990, Jack served eight years on the Board of Review of the Illinois Department of Employment Security under Governor Jim Edgar.
Jack was a Director for the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, The American Retail Federation, Washington, D.C., as well as serving on the Bensenville Home Society Board. He was a Trustee at Elmhurst College for 16 years, serving three Presidents. Jack was named Trustee Emeritus upon retirement.
Jack and Peggy are members of St. Peters United Church of Christ. They were two of six founders of Elmhurst College and Community, a support group for the college. They also co-chaired the first June Jazz festival in 1980, now an annual event called Elmhurst College Extravaganza. Jack was a tremendous fan and supporter of Doug Beach and the Elmhurst College Jazz Band.
He and Peggy shared a diverse group of interests and hobbies, loving travel, music, reading, writing, golf, tennis, tai-chi and yoga. They loved to explore Mexico and traveled to Switzerland, Italy and Paris. Another regular trip was to London where they made many new lifetime friends and enjoyed the sights and the theatre. Jack was also fond of visiting the pubs.
With a passion for working with young people, Jack worked with his son’s baseball teams, church youth groups and the Boy Scouts of America. He was an Eagle Scout and loved to camp and explore, especially in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. After moving to Park Place in 2012 Jack worked with the youth at Timothy Christian High School for many years.
Jack is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by Peggy, his wife of 61 years; his daughter Susan Cashman and his son John (Dee) Cashman and grandsons Mike, Kevin, Christopher and Matthew Cashman.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to St. Peters United Church of Christ or the Elmhurst College Jazz Band.
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but, people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
Arrangements provided by Elmhurst Community Funeral Home – The Ahlgrim Chapel. For info: 630-834-3515 or ElmhurstFH.com.
