Sugar Grove's 'Jo Jo the Clown' is Citizen of the Year

She is known to hundreds as Jo Jo the Clown.

On Friday, she became known as the 2008 Sugar Grove Citizen of the Year.

Karen McCannon accepted the award from Village President Sean Michels on opening night of the Sugar Grove Corn Boil as past recipients Joe Wolf, Pat Graceffa and Delmar Kreighbaum offered their congratulations.

"I'm shocked," McCannon said, wiping away tears and accepting hugs from family and friends.

McCannon is a 43-year resident of Sugar Grove who uses a decorated golf cart to get around because of arthritis.

"I want to say that just because you're a senior citizen and handicapped doesn't mean you can't give back to the community," she said.

McCannon has proved it. She was nominated for the award by village Trustee and corn boil President Kevin Geary for spearheading the annual Fourth of July parade, which she leads in her Jo Jo the Clown character, riding in her golf cart which she calls the Clown Victoria.

She has been involved in the corn boil, in Holiday in the Grove and the farmers market. McCannon is also a member of the hand bell choir and the coffee connection at the Sugar Grove United Methodist Church.

She is perhaps best known for her alter ego, a character that developed during a dark period in McCannon's life.

"My husband (Michael McCannon) died in 2002 and 10 months later I found out I had breast cancer," McCannon said. "I had to do something, so while I was going through chemotherapy and radiation I trained to be a Christian clown."

McCannon credited her late husband for teaching her about citizenship.

"My husband taught me how to give back to the community," McCannon said. "His parents and grandparents were very involved. They were instrumental in starting the community house and the library."

McCannon was born in Rockford. She was living in Milwaukee when she met her husband.

"I married this man who took me back to the country," she said.

McCannon's two children, Susanne and Matt, were present, as were her three grandchildren, Alyssa, Lavon and Samantha.

The award was established in 1998 by the village and the Sugar Grove Chamber of Commerce to recognize an individual or group that best exemplifies the pioneering spirit that made Sugar Grove prosper.