HR0855 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0855 LRB101 21534 MST 72349 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the deaths of Edison Park mainstays Irvin "Irv" Kaage Jr., 92, and Muriel Kaage, 90, who both passed away in April just 36 hours apart due to complications from the coronavirus; and

WHEREAS, Irvin and Muriel Kaage operated the Kaage's Corner Newsstand on Northwest Highway in Edison Park, which has been a mainstay for the last 77 years; and

WHEREAS, Their family members will always remember Irv and Muriel for their enduring love story that spanned seven decades and lasted until Irv's death when the hospital moved their beds close to one another so they could hold each others' hands; and

WHEREAS, Muriel Kaage defied her father by marrying Irv, and after getting married, they only had $100 to their names; even though it was a rough start, their love endured, and Muriel's father eventually accepted their love of one another; and

WHEREAS, Irv Kaage was able to grow his newsstand business and was eventually able to afford to buy Muriel a beauty shop just across the street from the newsstand; the couple lived in a small apartment behind the beauty shop; and

WHEREAS, While running the newsstands, Irv Kaage also delivered the Chicago Daily News to hotels and businesses around the area and picked up and delivered horse racing sheets for newsstands; and

WHEREAS, Irv Kaage prided himself on knowing his customers by name and which newspaper they wanted, and his newsstand was one of the last surviving newspaper stands of what used to be at every corner in the city; and

WHEREAS, After saving enough for a down payment on a house, Irv and Muriel Kaage planted roots and raised three children, and all three Kaage children got their first job experience working at one of the family newsstands; and

WHEREAS, Muriel Kaage, also known as "Mern" because of her resemblance to actress Myrna Loy, never lost her flair for style and fashion, favoring hats for herself and making sure her husband wore an outfit matching her own if they were going out; and

WHEREAS, It was the Kaage family that kept customers coming, as even in a digital news age people wanted to support them and their business; and

WHEREAS, In 2012, an honorary street sign designating Kaage's Corner was erected at the intersection of Northwest Highway and Oliphant Avenue, where their newsstand was located; and

WHEREAS, Irv and Muriel Kaage saw beauty in everything and appreciated and inspired others with their love of people; and

WHEREAS, Irv and Muriel Kaage were the loving parents of Irvin L. (Laurel) Kaage III, Michael (Karen) Kaage, and Patricia (the late Edward) Yauch; the proud grandparents of Kathrine (Daniel) Esposito, Irvin L. (Claire) Kaage IV, Kristen Kaage, Christopher Kaage, and Kent (Grace) Kaage; the great-grandparents of Aellah Kaage, Barjona Kaage, Irvin L. Kaage V, Alexander Esposito, Ryan Esposito, Thurlow Kaage, Elisabeth Esposito, and Soren Kaage; and the dear sister of Arlene (the late Henry) Kraus; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Irvin "Irv" Jr. and Muriel Kaage and extend our condolences to their family, friends, the entire Edison Park community, and all who knew and loved them; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Irv and Muriel Kaage as an expression of our deepest sympathy and in appreciation of their devotion to their community.