Two Courtyard Seniors Crowned “McHenry Royalty!”
Longtime McHenry business owners and friends, Joe Stanek of “Joe’s Barbershop” and Shirley Klapperich of “Little Chef Restaurant,” are officially crowned “McHenry royalty” at The Courtyard at McHenry Memory Care.
The fitting “King” and “Queen” titles were bestowed upon Joe and Shirley by McHenry High School’s recently crowned homecoming Queen Kayra Hanneman and King Chase Miller.
“It’s so sweet of the local high school seniors to bring the homecoming tradition and spirit to The Courtyard by honoring our seniors,” said Jodi Borck, The Courtyard’s director of sales and marketing.
The “Royals” History
Joe and Shirley, whose McHenry community ties go way back, were happily reunited as neighbors at The Courtyard, where, these days, they are joined at the hip for meals, activities, and joking around, as well as for their recent coronation.
“Shirley and Dad have known each other forever,” says Joe’s daughter Cynthia.
The two civic leaders met in the 1960s when both were operating their businesses and putting their stamp on McHenry.
In addition to being a barber, Joe served as McHenry’s mayor from 1973 to 1985. He was known as “the parks” mayor for establishing several community parks for which he was recognized with an honorary street sign. Joe is also a Korean War veteran, a former Knights of Columbus member, and, according to Cynthia, one heck of a baseball player.
Today, Joe is fondly nicknamed “the mayor” of The Courtyard at McHenry for his friendly and outgoing personality.
“When mom moved to The Courtyard, we were happy to see Joe’s familiar face!” said Shirley’s daughter, Terry, who is one of Shirley’s six children and the only girl.
Terry and her five brothers grew up around the Little Chef Restaurant. Shirley went from waitress to the diner’s owner when she purchased it in 1968. In addition to running the charming and popular eatery, Shirley started McHenry’s Holiday Walk in the 1960s. It began with just a couple of businesses and grew into a cherished town tradition that continues today.
Generations of McHenry families got Joe’s haircuts and ate Little Chef’s pancakes. The legacy of each business continues: Terry now runs the family restaurant, which she bought from her mom in 2009, and the barbershop is still operating, but under new ownership.
“Mom is delighted to meet people at The Courtyard…residents, staff, and family visitors…who remember her from the Little Chef,” says Terry.
Likewise, Cynthia says that it’s common for her to meet people who say, “Your dad used to cut my hair!”
Even more proud of being fondly remembered for their neighborhood establishments, Shirley and Joe each cherish a family legacy of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who are indeed honored to have “royal” grandparents.
One of our greatest joys in seniors housing is honoring our residents’ legacies, as is the case with Joe Stanek and Shirley Klapperich. We applaud Joe and Shirley’s outstanding commitment to their community and their choice to call Encore’s Courtyard at McHenry their new home. “Encore!”
The Courtyard at McHenry offers convenience, comfort, and a sense of community in Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care. For more information, contact Jodi Borck at (815) 385-9840 or [email protected].
