HR0485 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0485 LRB101 13448 ALS 62292 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Kruta's Bakery on the occasion of its 100th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Kruta's Bakery was founded in 1919 by Frank Kruta Sr., who emigrated from Russia after training in Germany to be a baker; the original bakery was located in two side-by-side shot-gun-style houses on 8th Street in East St. Louis; Frank was joined at the bakery by his wife, Anastatia (Stella), his four sons, and his daughter; the bakery was remodeled in 1945 to accommodate the growing business; and

WHEREAS, After 55 years in East St. Louis, Frank's oldest son, Tony, and his wife, Sue, reopened the bakery in Collinsville in January 1974; Tony and Sue were joined by Tony's siblings, Frank Jr. and Stella and their sons, Joe and Jim Sr.; the bakery has flourished in Collinsville; and

WHEREAS, The Kruta family's business has become a staple in Madison County and a shining example of the American Dream fulfilled; the family business has survived many challenges, including long, hard hours of work, The Great Depression, and the loss of a family member at the Battle of the Bulge; and

WHEREAS, Today, the bakery is run by the third and fourth generations of the Kruta family; the family still uses some of the same recipes Frank Sr. brought with him from Eastern Europe and follows his commitment to baking from scratch using the highest-quality ingredients; they strive to maintain consistency throughout the decades, to run the bakery with the values of honesty, integrity, and hard work, and to treat their customers like family; and

WHEREAS, Kruta's Bakery will host an anniversary celebration on August 18, 2019, featuring live music, food from several Collinsville restaurants, and samples of cake and pastries; in an effort to give back to the community, the bakery has partnered with the American Warrior Initiative and is charging adults a small fee for the food offered at the celebration; the proceeds will be used to provide a local veteran in need with a service dog; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Kruta's Bakery on the occasion of its 100th anniversary and wish the Kruta family many more successful years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Kruta's Bakery as an expression of our esteem and respect.