advertisement

Longtime Buffalo Grove volunteer Ernie Karge recognized

Buffalo Grove's volunteers perform their tasks out of the public eye, well-known mostly within their circle - Rotary, the chamber, village boards and commissions.

Last week, however, all eyes at the Buffalo Grove village board meeting were trained on Ernie Karge, who received a proclamation recognizing him for his years of service to the village.

He has served for more than 30 years with the Rotary Club of Buffalo Grove, including as president. Honors with Rotary include the Rotarian of the Decade and the Bill Reid Community Service Award. He also initiated the first Buffalo Grove Days Pancake Breakfast.

He served as a director with the Buffalo Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, where he was instrumental in starting the Buffalo Grove Days Dinner Dance, the Taste of Buffalo Grove and the chamber's first golf outing.

And he has served 24 years on village's Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.

After Village President Beverly Sussman read the proclamation, Karge, who sat in the front row beside his wife Joan, said he was overwhelmed by the accolades and got emotional as he thanked his wife for "being so understanding. Many evenings and weekends all these years, she was alone." Prior to the meeting, she said, "I can't tell you how proud I am of his years of service, plus his commitment."

Several dignitaries, including two former mayors thanked Ernie Karge for his service.

"Ernie has been the glue. He has seen it all," said Brian Rubin, who served with him on the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. "He is responsible in large part for the quality we have today in both departments."

"We are sorely going to miss him," said Roy Bethge, deputy chief, operations, with the police department. "He has the wisdom of having done this for a long time and seen what's worked and what hasn't worked. Experience is everything, because law enforcement is a people business."

Former Mayor Elliott Hartstein called the couple "mainstays of our community. Without people like you, this community would not be the special community it is."

  Buffalo Grove Police Chief Steven Casstevens congratulates Rotarian Ernie Karge on his years of service at last week's village board meeting. Steve Zalusky/szalusky@dailyherald.com
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.