Officers and Directors

The Grayslake Historical Society Board meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Heritage Center Community Room.

Chuck Clow

President

Chuck grew up in Grayslake, attended Lakeview School and Grayslake High School, class of 1966. He is currently a resident of Libertyville since 1979. He is married to Karen and they have three adult children.

Both his parents were active with the Society with his dad having served as president for many years. They lived in the same Grayslake house for over sixty-five years. Chuck’s dad was in the insurance business in Grayslake from 1946 to 1985. Chuck currently owns and operates an insurance agency in Grayslake.

Chuck is an active Rotarian for thirty-five years and served as charter president on the formation of the Rotary Club of Grayslake.

Chuck believes that as we embrace the future, it is important to remember the past.

Adrijana Bisevac

Vice President

Adrijana has lived in Grayslake since 1991. She attended Woodview, Lakeview, Grayslake Middle School and Grayslake Community High School. After completing her degree at Marquette University, Adrijana returned to Grayslake to work as a Social Studies teacher at Grayslake Central, and she has been working in District 127 every since. She presently serves as the Social Studies Department Chair at Grayslake North High School and teaches AP US History. Adrijana became involved with the Grayslake Historical Society while working on the WWI Exhibit committee and loved it! Adrijana sincerely believes that local history is a vital facet to a strong history class curriculum and would like her students to build a tangible, meaningful, and lasting connection to their community.

Jane Trump

Secretary

Jane has lived in Grayslake since 2010. She began volunteering for the Historical Society in 2016 after retiring from 23 years as a reference librarian at Cook Memorial Public Library. Since joining the Board in 2019, she continues to work on research projects and has begun helping with exhibits and archives. She doesn’t have a favorite artifact yet, but trusts that will come with time.

Treasurer

This office is presently open

Larry Herzog

Board Member, Class of 2025

Larry was born and raised in Chicago. After graduating from Taft High School where he participated in football and track, he furthered his education by obtaining a BA in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois, Chicago and a MBA from Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago. Larry served in the US Marine Corps Reserve from 1970 to 1976.

In 1972 Larry started his career in law enforcement. He went through the ranks – patrol officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, deputy chief – with Park Ridge Illinois Police Department. He left Park Ridge in 1998 to become Grayslake Police Department Chief of Police. Larry retired from law enforcement in 2011.

Larry believes in being active in a community. He coached and is past president of the Park Ridge Mighty-Mite Youth Football program. He coached Park Ridge Youth baseball. He is past tribal chief of the Park Ridge Indian Princess nation.

Larry is past president of the Lake County Chiefs of Police Association. In addition he was a board member of Lake County organizations associated with police work. He is founding member and past present of both the Grayslake Kiwanis Club and Grayslake Rotary Club.

In 2007, Larry lost his wife Josephine, with whom he had three children and nine grandchildren. Christine became his traveling partner and wife in 2018. With this union, Larry gained a daughter and two more grandchildren to enjoy. When not at home in Third Lake, he is in his motorhome traveling or perhaps taking a ride in his current antique car.

Larry reports that he is “proud to be a board director of the Grayslake Historical Society and Museum.”

Charlotte K. Renehan

Board Member, Class of 2023

Charlotte brings many experiences to the board. She is a charter member of the Grayslake Historical Society and has held every society office.

She was born in Grayslake; she taught elementary school in Grayslake for forty years; she has researched and written books about Grayslake. These experiences help her fulfill the role of archivist/curator of the museum plus editing the Society newsletter. Charlotte has a Masters Degree in Education.

In addition to involvement in our local society, she is a member of other local historical societies, a charter member of the Lake County Genealogical Society, a member of the Lake County Historical Alliance and a past director of the Illinois Historical Society. Charlotte enjoys doing genealogy, researching local history, exploring antique shops plus visiting museums and historic sites throughout the world.

Her favorite artifact in the museum is the one-room school which is now the permanent gallery because, as she says, “It educated children over 130 years ago and is still educating people today.” When asked why she is involved in the Grayslake Historical Society, she answered, “I grew up in Grayslake as did my father, and cherish it’s history. I enjoy researching genealogy, even other people’s. Combining these two interests, the Grayslake Historical Society is a perfect fit”.

JoAnn Mastejulia

Board Member, Class of 2023

JoAnn moved to Grayslake forty-two years ago from New Hampshire but is originally from New Jersey. She is a graduate of Kean University and has a Masters of Education degree from National Louis University.

Although now retired, JoAnn taught for thirty-five years at Woodview, Lakeview, Frederick and the Middle School of Grayslake Community Consolidated School District 46.

She has participated on the Grayslake Public Library Board and is a member of the Lake County and Illinois Retired Teachers Association.

JoAnn keeps busy reading, gardening and maintaining her sixty-five year old house. She enjoys following the activities of her granddaughter.

She hopes to be of use to the Grayslake Historical Society.

Laurie Poska Frank

Board Member, Class of 2024

Laurie grew up in Grayslake. Her parents migrated to the suburbs rom Chicago in the years following WWII. With fond memories of summer excursions to “Pete’s Park” during her own childhood, Laurie’s mother lured her soldier (and his fishing gear) up to Grayslake to raise their family. They purchased a home where they resided for over 55 years, raised 5 children, and enjoyed frequent visits from numerous grandchildren. Laurie’s mother was an active member of the Historical Society while her father was active in Boy Scout Troop #73 for many years.

Laurie attended Woodview, Lakeview, and Grayslake High School. After graduating in 1970, she headed off to college, earning a BA in Psychology from Western Illinois University and a MS in Educational Psychology from the University of Tennessee. Her 3 adult children also graduated from the Grayslake school system. Two grandsons will soon be the third generation to run the halls of Woodvieew School!

The glass case in the lobby from The Old Dime Store is Laurie’s favorite artifact in the museum. Along with many of her peers, picking out penny candy from the case is a core childhood memory of growing up in Grayslake.

After serving children and adolescents in the behavioral/mental health field for 30+ years, retirement has offered Laurie the opportunity to serve the Historical Society. Throughout her career, she increasing observed the importance of a sense of place, a sense of belonging, and the social connections to health and well-being. She hopes to support the Society’s efforts to preserve anD promote Grayslake’s history for the benefit of village residents and visitors alike.