Sugar Grove fireworks show renamed to honor late village trustee

Bob Bohler was devoted to making sure the annual Sugar Grove Corn Boil had a fireworks show each year.

That meant begging residents and show-goers for money in 2006 and 2007, when corporate sponsorships disappeared as the recession started.

It meant working through new safety regulations with the village and fire officials, as state law changed.

It meant dealing with the federal government each year, because the Aurora Municipal Airport had to be closed during the show, because the fireworks were shot off from a field east of the airport.

It often meant spending his wife's birthday at the Corn Boil, overseeing setup, making the musical playlist, and ensuring everything went off without a hitch.

The Corn Boil Committee decided to honor Bohler's memory by naming the fireworks show The Bob Bohler Memorial Fireworks Show.

"He was the first guy who said the Corn Boil should have fireworks," committee President Louise Coffman said.

"He did all the work. He was a huge fundraiser. He was passionate about it."

Bohler, an 18-year member of the village board, died in April at age 64 of cancer.

This year's show is July 25. The festival is July 23-26.

It is privately funded by donations, and by proceeds from the Corn Boil. The Corn Boil gives any money left over from the event, after expenses are paid, to local nonprofit groups including the Between Friends Food Pantry, the Kaneland school district student group that helps clean up the festival site, and Boy and Girl Scout troops.

The more money donated to the fireworks, the more money the committee can give to charities, Coffman said.

The show typically costs $13,000 to $15,000, she said.

New this year is a GoFundMe account online for fireworks donations, at gofundme.com/sgcbfw2015. The site accepts credit and debit cards.

Checks can also be sent to Sugar Grove Corn Boil Committee NFP, P.O. Box 225, Sugar Grove, IL 60554.