Buffalo Grove renaming village green in Ernie Karge's honor
Ernie Karge volunteered countless hours to the village of Buffalo Grove. Now, the community he loved is paying tribute to his memory.
At the request of the Rotary Club of Buffalo Grove, the village is renaming the Rotary Village Green the Ernie Karge Rotary Village Green.
Karge, who with his wife, Joan, won the Bill Reid Community Service Award in 2013, died in November. He was 89.
The village green, at 265 N. Buffalo Grove Road, hosts several community events, including an annual concert series and the Fourth of July Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band performance.
Karge was a member of the Rotary Club of Buffalo Grove for nearly 40 years, serving as its president from 1982-83 and earning Rotarian of the Decade for the 1990s.
"He left a permanent, lasting positive impact on the community that he lived in and loved," states a village board resolution renaming the green.
Village Manager Dane Bragg noted that Karge served more than 24 years on Buffalo Grove's board of fire and police commissioners.
"Ernie was a founding member of what we know today as the chamber of commerce, what is now Buffalo Grove Days and many more assets in our community," Bragg said.
Karge and his wife were chosen in 2005 as grand marshals of the Buffalo Grove Days Parade.
Joan Karge was on hand when village trustees approved the renaming last week.
"I just want to say that I am totally overwhelmed," she said.