Weekly receives the Ron Runkle Award and Strohschein the President's Recognition Award at IL NAELA's Fall UnProgram on October 23

BARTLETT, Ill. — October 23, 2026 — The Illinois Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (IL NAELA) honored two longtime leaders on Friday, October 23, at its Fall UnProgram at Bartlett Hills Golf Club. Dawn Weekly received the Ron Runkle Award, and Linda M. Strohschein, CELA, received the President's Recognition Award.

Both honorees have given years of service to the chapter's board and to the older adults, people with disabilities, and families that Illinois elder law attorneys serve.

Dawn Weekly — Ron Runkle Award

The Ron Runkle Award is given in memory and tribute to Ronald A. Runkle, Esq. He was a generous, gracious and knowledgeable contributor to the Illinois NAELA listserv and other educational endeavors in many areas of elder law and legal study. This award is given to acknowledge those of our colleagues that best exemplify the generosity and knowledge shared by Ron with others.

Weekly has been an IL NAELA member since 2007 and served as chapter President in 2021, along with many years on the board of directors and its committees. In January 2026 she was appointed Public Administrator and Public Guardian of Iroquois County, a role that puts her at the center of protecting some of the county's most vulnerable residents.

She has practiced for more than 15 years at the Legacy Law Firm, LLC. Earlier in her career she focused on estate planning and on helping veterans secure pension benefits and served as a prehearing attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals. She holds a B.S. in Management from Columbia College Chicago and a J.D. from Northern Illinois University College of Law.

Linda M. Strohschein — President's Recognition Award

The President's Recognition Award is presented at the discretion of the chapter President to honor the member whose work goes beyond what any job description could capture, and Linda embodies that spirit every day. Just as important as what she accomplishes is how she does it: with integrity, generosity, and a steady commitment to doing things the right way.

Strohschein serves as a Director on IL NAELA's Executive Board and is a regular presenter on Illinois elder law case law and legislative developments, including at the IICLE Elder Law Short Course. She is Certified as an Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation, one of a small number of Illinois attorneys to hold the credential.

She is principal of Strohschein Law Group, LLC in St. Charles, which she founded in 2004

after beginning her career in probate litigation in 1996. The family-owned firm focuses on estate and long-term care planning, special needs planning, guardianship, and estate and trust administration.

"Dawn has given this chapter nearly two decades of leadership, from the committee table to the President's chair, and now she brings that same commitment to the people of Iroquois County," said Melissa Kallio, President of IL NAELA. "Linda keeps our chapter on solid footing and keeps our members current on AI. We are grateful to both of them."

The awards were presented during IL NAELA's Fall UnProgram, an interactive, discussiondriven continuing legal education day for elder law attorneys from across Illinoi held on Friday, October 23, 2026, at the Bartlett Hills Golf Club, Bartlett, IL.

                      

Pictured:

Left: awardee Dawn Weekly

Right: Melissa Kallio, IL NAELA President with awardee Linda Strohschein