God sent His angels to bring Jane Elizabeth Reed Wineman to be home with Him on June 13, 2026. Jane married her one great love on June 13, 1953. How like God in His perfect way to bring them together in glorious heaven on their 73rd wedding anniversary, and to give this loving comfort to their daughters.
Jane, 94, was born on February 21, 1932, in Lawrenceville, IL. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents Hubert and Avis Reed, sister Marilyn Perkins, and her one great love husband Emerson L.“Ted” Wineman.
She is survived by her daughters Alicia Wineman Fujihara (Mark) and Margaret “Margie” Wineman Chaney (Mike). And her cherished niece Karen Ratcliff (Brian).
Besides her faith, nothing meant more to Jane than being a mom and being a constant loving support and encouragement to her daughters. She was devoted to them and they to her.
Jane earned a Masters Degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois. She would spend 30 years teaching in the public schools, mostly in Vincennes and three years in Champaign IL. She loved working with wonderful teachers and creating special programs for the students. She treasured her hundreds of students, who seeing her would say a big “Hi Mrs. Wineman!” and to her delight would sing one of their favorite songs she had taught them.
Children were close to her heart. It was her overwhelming desire to open the world of music to them. She knew music had the power to bring them a lifetime of joy, fun, and comfort.
God gave her the remarkable gift of writing children songs that could open their eyes to a loving approachable God. A God who would always be there for them. She would write many songs for many different occasions.
One of Jane’s nurses had been in the church youth choir she directed some twenty-five years ago. Her favorite of Jane’s songs, still vividly in her mind, she said had many times reminded her of God’s love for her when times had been difficult. What beautiful validation to Jane that she had indeed let God use her love of music and God given talents to comfort others and show them God’s love, just as she had prayed they would.
She would need to have open heart surgery for a valve at age 82. Her song writing would take a different turn from children. She wrote a song for her cardiac surgeon. He loved it! Her spunky resilience, sense of humor, and song landed her as a keynote speaker in Orlando,FL. She was flown down with her daughters to speak in front of a group of international cardiac surgeons to talk about her experience prior to surgery, her experience recovering from surgery, to answer their questions and sing her song!
Months later, a film crew from PBS (camera man, lightening man, and interviewer) came to her home for a day to film and interview her for a documentary about open heart surgery. It was quite a day. She and her cardiac surgeon were also interviewed by Fox channel 59 in Indianapolis. The surgeon and Jane did a great job together with their interview.
Jane and her husband were awarded and inscribed to be Voyageurs of the Wabash, an honor and award from the Spirit of Vincennes on May 27,1984. On May 5, 1988, the Vincennes Area Chamber of Commerce recognized and awarded the special contribution of Jane R. Wineman to the annual Spirit of Vincennes Rendezvous. She was proud of both honors.
She treasured her First United Methodist Church, where she was a member since 1956, sang in the choir for years and directed the children’s choir at different times for over 25 years. Many years of teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School were a joy to her.
She cherished time with her friends whether on the phone, or sitting around her kitchen table, or sitting in someone’s driveway talking after a fun dinner out, just loving to laugh and share.
She rejoiced with them with their successes and wanted to comfort and hold them when they were hurting. She had lifelong friendships from kindergarten till the day she died.
Her last year of life she would have eleven hospitalizations. Spending as much time in the hospital as out. Through all the physical frustrations and limitations, poking, prodding and sticking she was remarkably pleasant and never failed to thank her nurses and aides. Many of them told Jane and her family they loved her and were inspired by her. She loved them too.
Jane believed in warm smiles, kind words, sweet giggles, gentle hugs, caring notes, compassion filled hearts and choosing joyfulness. She loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and is with Him and her beloved Ted and parents now.
Visitation will be held from 11:00am till 1:00pm on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at the First United Methodist Church in Vincennes. Memorial service and Celebration of Life will follow at 1:00pm at the church. Graveside service at Memorial Park Cemetery immediately following. In lieu of flowers the family would love to have personal notes or cards in remembrance of Jane. Online memories may be shared with Jane’s family and friends at www.goodwinsieversfh.com. Goodwin-Sievers Funeral Home is privileged and honored to be entrusted with the care of Jane and her family.
Comments