Helena Zentmyer Wackerlin was an alumna of the Aurora College Class of 1918. She was born in Naperville, Illinois, in 1898 but soon after moved to Aurora. Helena's roots were in the Methodist Church but she was comfortable in the Advent Christian Church, the Catholic Church or the synagogue which she would attend with friends. Helena had a deep love of music and was an accomplished pianist. She was a lifelong benefactor of Aurora University and also a leading preservationist on behalf of Aurora and Naperville. Her interest in Eckhart Hall goes back to her student days at Aurora College. In restoring Lowry Chapel, she wanted to recognize our Christian heritage, the rich contributions of Orrin Roe Jenks, and her teachers and fellow students. As part of the improvements to Lowry Chapel, the Lord's Prayer in German was included in a window. Mrs. Wackerlin would say the Lord's Prayer in German as part of her daily devotions.
Helena has been described as a visionary while being modest, generous, loyal, gracious, thoughtful, unselfish, tenderhearted and an unassuming woman.
In 1922 Helena married Jake Wackerlin and together they ran the Wackerlin Service Station and Restaurant on the east side of Aurora until they retired in 1946. Helena left a gift to Aurora University for the baseball program in honor of her husband. Her husband had been a fine player in his day and at one time had sponsored an amateur baseball team.
In 1987 she was presented the Distinguished Friend of History Award by the Illinois Historical Society for her great contributions to the preservation of local history. She was presented with the Distinguished Alumna Award from Aurora University in 1990, and in 1995 the university presented her with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. Helena truly was a testimony to the university's motto of "Character and Scholarship."
Upon her passing, Helena left a generous bequest to Aurora University, part of which made possible the Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action.
