Successful entrepreneur and bonified war hero – both were titles Irving Kannett earned in his long life.

Still, perhaps the epithets he was most fond of were loyal friend and loving family man.

“Irv was a treasured friend to all he worked with as well as a dedicated family man who will be dearly missed,” reads an obituary.

Irving “Irv” Kannett was a successful promo products distributor and decorated U.S. Army veteran.

It’s in that positive light that Kannett will be remembered following his recent passing at age 101.

Kannett was the founder and owner of Irving Kannett & Associates, a Chicago-based promotional products distributorship. Loving what he did for a living, Kannett worked until the age of 93, when he retired after decades in the business.

A life-long Chicago resident, Kannett founded his firm after returning from World War II. During that massive global conflict, Kannett served as a master sergeant with the U.S. Army’s 96th Infantry Division in the Asia-Pacific theater. He was a decorated veteran, having earned a Bronze Star.

Kannett was married for 71 years to the love of his life – the late Joanne. He was father to Mark and Jeffrey, a grandfather of five, and great-grandfather (“GG,” he was called) to Logan and Mason Irv Koss.

Memorial donations in his honor may be made to: Honor Flight Chicago, honorflightchicago.org/donate.

For service and shiva information, as well as to leave condolences, visit: shalommemorial.org/in-memorial/2023/X-Migdal/Irving-Kannett/