Linda Cashman

Linda Louise Cashman, née O’Brien, passed away on December 15, 2024 after a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Her final moments were spent peacefully surrounded by family and close friends at Kavanagh House in Des Moines.

Known for her spunk and homestyle cooking, Linda will be dearly missed by all who knew her. She was born on June 27, 1942 to Harriet Reighard and Wayne O’Brien in Menlo, Iowa. On February 17, 1962 she married John Cashman, also from Menlo, during a blizzard that snowed the wedding party in at the Cashman farm. The couple had two daughters and raised them in Council Bluffs. Linda worked for 27 years as a library aide at an elementary school, where she honed her storytelling skills to the delight of countless children and especially her grandchildren. Her Merry Christmas Space Case alien voice is legendary in the Cashman household! She enjoyed playing bridge, gardening, traveling, and watching the Chicago Cubs finally win a World Series Championship.

Linda was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and her brother, Denny. She is survived by her daughter, Teresa Cashman and son-in-law Richard Martin of Des Moines; daughter, Nancy Cashman of New York, NY; her grandchildren, John Martin of Austin, Texas, Amelia Martin of Washington D.C., Paul Martin of Austin, Texas, and Sam Jack of New York, NY; her siblings, John (Cathy) O’Brien of Ankeny, IA, Jayne (Mark) Whetstone of Menlo, IA, and Julie O’Brien of Aurora, CO; step-mother, Phyllis O’Brien of Adair; brother-in-law Jim (Sandy) Cashman of Olympia, WA; sister-in-law Margee (Dennis) Yoshimura of Branson, MO; and nieces, nephews, and her many dear friends. 

A celebration of life will be held in the summer of 2025. Details will be forthcoming. Those who wish to honor Linda’s memory can make donations to Every Step Hospice (Kavanagh House), the Alzheimer’s Association, or the Animal Rescue League. In particular, the family would like to thank the staff at Kavanagh House for the compassionate and highly skilled care they gave Linda in her final days, while protecting her dignity at all times.