Gurnee Days honors longtime volunteers James and Johanna Blockinger

Gurnee Days Corp. has announced that James and Johanna Blockinger have been chosen as the 2012 Gurnee Days Honorees.

For 40 years, the Gurnee Days Corp. has selected a deserving individual or couple to be honored during the annual Gurnee Days celebration. The testimonial dinner honoring the Blockingers will be Thursday, Aug. 9, and traditionally kicks off the annual Gurnee Days festivities.

Jim, a Gurnee Elementary District 56 board member, and Hanna have been champions in everything they do. They love spending time with their family and their four grandchildren, but they also devote so much time volunteering, and their many accomplishments have greatly enhanced the village of Gurnee and the Chicago area.

As Lake County Circuit Judge Valerie Boettle Ceckowski said, “The children and families of Gurnee have benefited from the lifelong dedication of this amazing couple. Jim and Hanna Blockinger are very deserving of this recognition as Gurnee Days honorees.”

Each year, the Gurnee Days Corp. seeks nominations from the community for people who have made a meaningful contribution to make this area a better place to work and live. Gurnee Days is pleased to have such devoted people as the Blockingers as the 2012 honorees and parade marshals.

Hanna joined the Gurnee Days Corp. in 1998 and has been in charge of all the afternoon stage events and created the outstanding Talent Show. She served as Gurnee Days president, treasurer and board member. Jim does the sound for the talent show tryouts as well as helping with the stage management and accompanies acts as needed.

The couple is known for providing karaoke for the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life and volunteering at Lambs Farm in Green Oaks. Hanna even does singalongs with residents at a nursing home.