Herbert "Herb" Kasiem, 79, of Rockford, passed on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. He was born in Chicago June 17, 1942 as Herbert Boyd Hayes Jr. He was one of four children of Herbert B. Hayes Sr. and Martha-Margaret (Chapman) Hayes. Herb graduated from Corpus Christi Grammar School and St. Elizabeth High School in Chicago.  In high school, he played basketball and football and was a Junior Golden Glove in boxing.  The Chicago Catholic HS Athletic League provided him the opportunity to travel the country competing in basketball. He took courses at Malcolm X College where he met Linda Bailey-Murray. They were married September 13, 1980 at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Rockford. He served in the Illinois National Guard from 1978 until 1980. They moved to Rockford around 1984. He was a frequent visitor at the YMCA both in Chicago and Rockford most of his adult life. In the mid-eighties, he often walked four miles across town to workout at the Wyman St. branch and would fill four gallon jugs with fountain water there before walking home near W State and Pierpont Av. He would walk the entire bike path along the riverfront. He was also a regular at the Rockford Public Library.
Survived by his wife, Linda; their children, Dawn and Victoria (twins), Isaiah (Phylicia), Jeremiah, and Jonah; grandchildren, Rikki and Amram, Zoe and Nicholas; and his three sisters, Sandra Atkins, Lisa Erby, and Tiye Hayes. As well as a multitude of extended family and friends.

Visitation at 10 AM before service to be held at 11 AM Friday, December 10, 2021 at Carl E. Ponds Funeral Home 200 N Johnston Av. The burial is at Greenwood Cemetery. The family is grateful to SwedishAmerican Hospital, Oak Street Health, Lifescape Community Services, Pastor Steve Doyle, Calvary Christian Church and Danita Stanford, Carl E. Ponds Funeral Home Inc.

In lieu of flowers, please consider Lifescape Community Services and Calvary Christian Church in your giving.