Lonni Oldham

Lonni Oldham, Grafton Township
 Lonni has been a McHenry County Historic Society volunteer since the 1980s and a board member since 2004. She and much of her extended family have been lifelong residents of Huntley and McHenry County.

In the midst of raising two daughters, Lonni taught for more than 40 years in Huntley schools – mostly fourth and fifth grades, but also to middle-school children. She made a point of engaging students through simulations such as one-room schools, archeological digs and family heritage research.

She has witnessed the growth and changes in the county especially, in her hometown. Hannah Marting and other teachers for whom District 158 schools are named were teachers from her days as a student!

Her local roots fostered an interest in preserving the past as a reference for the future. She is a member of the Huntley Historic Preservation Commission and initiated both the Huntley Historical Society and the District 158 Education Foundation.

Lonni strongly believes in and supports efforts on behalf of the public good. And MCHS’ mission absolutely fits this definition. For her, history is “just plain interesting.” Learning how and why things came to be, gives her an appreciation for the past.

When she is not volunteering, Lonni gardens, works on do-it-yourself projects or spends time with her grandkids.