Owen Gerald (Jerry) Cahill, 86, passed away November 8, 2013 at Hospice in Huntley, IL.
Jerry was born June 2, 1927 in Horton, Kansas to Verna Belle (Wilson) Cahill and Harry Morrill Cahill. The majority of his life was lived in Maywood, IL where he lived with his wife, Nancy (Johnson) Cahill in his boyhood home on North Third Avenue. He graduated from Proviso East High School in 1944 and in 1949 graduated from University of Iowa with a degree in Business. He served in the US Navy in 1945-46 as a Fireman 2nd Class, stationed on the USS Saufley in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Jerry went to Shanghai, Okinawa, Marshall Island and Hawaii in his service. He served 16 months until the war ended and the military size was reduced. He received the Victory Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Medal. Jerry was a proud WWII Navy veteran and belonged to the VFW Post #2193 and American Legion Post #626.
Jerry was a lifelong Republican and a Maywood Republican Precinct Captain for over 30 years. Jerry was a charter member of the Maywood Civic Association, served on the Maywood Police Pension Board and belonged to the Masonic Lodge Maywood Pleides #428. Mr. Cahill was also a member of the First Baptist Church of Maywood for over 50 years and served as a deacon.
In 1991 Jerry retired from Sears Roebuck and Company after a 42 year career where he was a department manager and most of his career was in major appliances. In 1998 Jerry and his wife moved to a retirement community in Huntley, IL where he resided until his death. Jerry and Nancy enjoyed spending many retirement winters at their condo in Pompano Beach, FL. Jerry loved golf, playing poker and participated in the Current Events Club. Another retirement tradition was driving to Kansas and deer hunting with cousin Bill Wilson of Horton and his family who have many fond memories of Jerry.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 54 years, Nancy, stepson James Smith, daughter-in-law Susan Smith and grandchildren Zachary, Matthew, Jason and Annie. Jerry will be missed by all of the Wilson cousins living in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas along with his special first cousin on the Cahill side, Mrs. Sally Warren, Tucson, AZ.
Services and interment will be private.
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