Christine June Gaines Mahan, nee Wiesehan, 65, went peacefully to be with her Lord on June 9, 2026, with her loving husband and sister by her side.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Rick Mahan; son, Nicholas (Ash’Lee) Gaines; brother, Scott (Carrie) Wiesehan; sister, Anita (Mike Diuguid) Heath; grandchildren, Hailey, Morgan, Kelsi, Cody, Bricen, Stella and Kalani; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Edward Wiesehan and Margaret Rollberg; husband, Brian Gaines; brother, Jay Wiesehan; and nephew, Adam Heath.

Christine was born June 12, 1960, in Duluth Minnesota on a day so cold her mother often told the story of wearing her winter coat to the hospital. She earned her CNA and LPN degrees and quickly became the go to person for all medical questions. She retired from the insurance industry after 27 years where she started as a switch board operator and worked her way up to manager and Sr. Technical Specialist handling WC claims. Christine previously attended St. John UCC in Granite City where she was a nursery worker, youth group adviser and Sunday school teacher.

Christine was a wonderful grandmother to her grandbabies. She installed slides and swings in her backyard for them and created cozy sleep overs with them. While at grandma’s house they enjoyed playing games and wondering why the fridge only opened for adults. She took them on fun trips and loved attending Kelsi’s trap practices and meets and Bricen’s basketball games.

Christine shared a special bond with her niece Kellie. Together they enjoyed dog agility, vacations and calling each other often to share everything happening in their lives. If you called one of them and they didn’t answer you would get a call back saying they were talking to the other. Christine did not have a daughter, but she found that relationship with Liz White. They had a wonderful bond full of love and respect.

While raising her son, she was a t-ball, baseball and soccer mom along with score keeper and organizer. Years later after she had no children in school, she became a volunteer at Wilson School for their 3rd grade reading program. She found much joy running dog agility with her dogs Bailey, Penny and Angel. With Bailey they earned a MACH 2 title. Penny also ran agility with Kellie. Penny has since become a couch potato, squirrel chasing, lovebug. After agility, Angel became a therapy dog and trick master with Christine’s training.

Christine had wonderful lifelong friends with a bond that not even distance or years would break. Christine and her sister, Anita, were very close. Each would often refer to the other as “My favorite sister”.

Christine met Rick Mahan in May 2022, and they were married on July 25, 2025, officiated by Pastor Kevin Wilson at Bethel Memorial Church in Princeton, Indiana.

Christine made it easy to be loved by the whole Mahan family. Rick’s children could immediately see how much they loved each other, were happy together and appreciated the way she treated them, their children and their dogs. Christine enjoyed helping tag team Rick’s grandchildren from time to time and creating special bonds with them. Christine delighted in showing off her Angel dog to the grandchildren or anyone who cared to watch, entertaining them with tricks and jumps as long as there were treats involved. Even after hearing “Don’t invite us if you don’t want us to go” from Rick’s sisters, Christine was always ready to include them on road trips and after church Sunday lunches.

As a lifelong city girl, farm life was new to Christine, but she was interested in learning the workings of the farm and helping Rick in any way she could. Christine’s first taste of farm work was when she had the opportunity to be one of a five-person crew to replace a knife on a 35’grain head. After the task, holding up her small hands with oversized leather gloves, she smiled and proclaimed, “I did farm work!”. Christine basked in the glory of being a “water witch” when she was able to locate a field tile with divining rods and was always available to transport the grain head from field to field. Her childlike joy in simple pleasures and accomplishments only enhanced her loveable nature.

A small visitation will be held at Sunset Hill Funeral Home on Friday, June 19th, 2026, from 10:30 till the time of service at 11:15. Interment will follow immediately after.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local animal rescue in Christine's honor.

The family is being served by Sunset Hill Funeral Home, 50 Fountain Drive, Glen Carbon, IL, 62034.