Margie Wilhelmi
Director of Marketing, Wheaton Park District
630.510.4984 | [email protected]

May 12, 2026

WHEATON—On Thursday, March 26, Caroline Jacobsen hosted a leadership luncheon  at the Chicago Golf Club to honor the memory of her late husband, Robert Jacobsen. This luncheon celebrated leaders from DuPage County who have made significant contributions to the preservation and appreciation of history within their communities.  

Early in 2026, Caroline reached out to the DuPage County Historical Museum (DCHM) with a vision for bringing this event to fruition. Together with Dan Wagner, a DCHM Foundation board member, and Michelle Podkowa, the Museum Manager, plans for the event quickly came together.

Caroline, Dan and Michelle organized a list of people who had made significant contributions to DuPage’s history and decided that the focus be on local historians who had gone above and beyond in their areas. This vast list was reduced down to five individuals, to include Zachary Bishop, Nancy Flannery, Bob Goldsborough, Keith Letsche and Glennette Tilley Turner.

Zachary Bishop started out as in intern at the DuPage County Historical Museum in 2014, after finishing the internship, he became the curator at Downers Grove History Museum.  Zach then became a part-time staff member and curator back at DuPage County Historical Museum before moving on to several other roles, with the Schingoethe Center of Aurora University in his current role as Registrar and Manager. Zachary is an accomplished author and still works at the DCHM from time to time.

The second honoree, Nancy Flannery served on the City of Wheaton’s Historic Commission as the Chair for 8 years. Nancy together with DCHM foundation board members, Robert Jacobsen and Marty Keller, took on a project to develop the book Wheaton, IL: Golf History Starts Here. Currently Nancy has been named the Court-appointed Receiver for the Wheaton Historic Preservation Council, a position requiring detail-oriented focus as she inventories WHPC’s collection for the court cases. 

As a freelance writer for the Chicago Tribune, Bob Goldsborough has recorded and written some amazing presentations on local history. His obituary remembrance pieces on local residents are beautiful and a who’s who of DuPage County.  They are a wealth of information for future historians.  Bob has also been researching and writing historic presentations for the local community for more than two decades.

Keith Letsche has been involved with the DCHM since the 1980s as it’s attorney which was followed by serving on the Foundation board and as an artifact donor and speaker.  As a local historian on various topics, Keith Letsche has volunteered his limitless knowledge for several exhibits, programs, and projects over the years-both local and nationally. Keith has consulted on historic lighting for the FDR National Historic Site, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House in LA and the Henry Ford Museum.  Keith volunteers his time at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL, and as the president of the West Chicago Historical Society. 

Glennette Tilley Turner, the fifth honoree, was an educator for over 20 years in both the Chicago Public Schools and Wheaton Schools. Glennette currently serves on the DCHM foundation board as well as on the Graue Mill board.

Glennette has received numerous awards and honors over the years for her work with the Underground Railroad including the Illinois State Historical Society Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. Glennette has contributed widely to the history field, both in our county and in the nation. With authoring 13 books, she has recorded the stories and knowledge she has researched and uncovered for future generations. 

This event celebrated Robert Jacobsen’s legacy in historical preservation with notable achievements including the preservation of three Pioneer Cemeteries in Milton Township, fundraising for the restoration of the Sheldon Peck home in Lombard, documenting the rich history of Chicago Golf, and collaborating with the DuPage County Historical Museum and Wheaton Park District on the book “Wheaton, Illinois: Golf History Starts Here” and his contributions of artifacts to display at Arrowhead Golf Club.

Details about these upcoming exhibits and programming can be found at dupagemuseum.org.