Long-time teacher loved Naperville

Nothing delighted Jane Rennels Hallwachs more than being out and about in Naperville and running into the many students she met during her 30-plus years of teaching.

As the only kindergarten teacher in Naperville in the 1940s, she taught at both Naper and Ellsworth elementary schools -- one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

And for the three decades that followed, she devoted her life to education, also teaching at Beebe and Elmwood elementary schools.

"She just loved children of that age and enjoyed seeing them grow and develop in both learning and physical size as well as growing mentally, and she loved helping them along," her son, Rob Hallwachs, said.

Mrs. Hallwachs, 90, died Thursday after suffering a heart attack and stroke a few days prior.

A lifelong Naperville resident, Mrs. Hallwachs was a graduate of Ellsworth herself, as well as of Naperville High School. She went on to attend North Central College before graduating from the National College of Education in Evanston.

But even as a teacher, Mrs. Hallwachs didn't follow all of the school rules. Despite a ban on female teachers getting married, she did just that in 1944 when she wed serviceman Bill Hallwachs and later had two children.

Rob said his mother was always ready to laugh and had a twinkle in her eyes.

"People just loved her because she was bubbly," he said. "People keep using the word 'feisty' for her. She was very outgoing and had friends of all ages."

Outside of teaching, Mrs. Hallwachs was a seamstress and a knitter who also loved to bake. She volunteered years ago at the Caroline Martin Mitchell Mansion and Ellsworth's learning resource center.

She was also proud of her ties to the history of both her country and city.

Her grandfather, Sgt. Levi Shaffer, was a Civil War veteran who is known for having provided his lieutenant with the pistol used to fire the first shot in the Battle of Gettysburg. Her father, Henry Rennels, was a manager of the J.L. Nichols Publishing Co. and founding member of the Naperville Country Club.

"She loved Naperville with a passion," Rob said. "She kept saying, 'It's not the Naperville I know anymore,' because it changed so rapidly in the last two decades. But she liked being driven around and looking at the new houses and the downtown. She loved Naperville and never wanted to leave."

A reception for family and friends will be from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Koten Chapel on the campus of North Central College, 329 School St. Burial will be in Naperville Cemetery.