She is survived by two daughters, Vicki Wheeler and Kandy (and Troy) Wood grandson Wesley (and Kristin) Kast granddaughter Kendra (and Rodney) Tussinger younger sister Myrna Bates great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews. Winnie loved teddy bears and hummingbirds, and enjoyed puzzles, bingo, and playing games with her friends and family. She worked at multiple factories, including Handy & Harmon, and worked nearly 30 years as a waitress in Fayette, Ohio. 8,1936, and graduated from Chesterfield High School in 1955. Winnie Kast, 85, of Wauseon, Ohio, died May 1, 2022. Memorial contributions are suggested to the family for future designation. Interment will follow in Packard Cemetery.
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Tuesday at the funeral home, with Pastor Tom Frantz officiating. Monday, May 9, at Eagle-Marry Funeral Home – Morenci Chapel. Funeral services begin at 11 a.m. She was preceded in death by her parents brothers Eldon and Ward Hough sister Wilma Schoonover and brother-in-law Jon Hobbs. She is survived by her husband James children Chris (and Jodi) McCowan and Rachel (and Jeremy) Johnson grandchildren Dalton and Justis (and Austin Gilson) McCowan and Hayden Lee Johnson and sisters Cathy (and Jeff) Sallows and Linda Sue Hobbs. Rita also loved to dance, go to garage sales, play Bingo and go to the casino. Her family says she made the absolute best fried chicken and biscuits and gravy. She loved spending as much time as she could with them, and loved watching Ohio State Football with her grandson, Dalton. Her dogs, Christmas and cooking were also passions of hers. Rita was a member of Blissfield Baptist Church. In the Christian spirit, she had compassion for those around her, never passing judgement on anyone and always putting the needs of others before her own. Family was also important to Rita. On June 24, 1972, in Morenci, she married James McCowan, and he survives. Rita was self-employed, providing in-home care to those in need. She was born in Morenci on March 23, 1952, to Johnny and Thelma (Sing) Henson. The business plans to reopen fully in April, but in the meantime, the Apartment Lounge will be hosting pop-up happy hours with outdoor seating and food trucks and is asking the community to show its support by heading out and having a drink.Rita Faye McCowan, 70, of Morenci, Mich., passed into the loving arms of her Savior on Tuesday, May 4, 2022, at ProMedica Toledo Hospital. The bar has been in its current location at 33 Sheldon Ave. The Apartment Lounge has been in business for 50 years in eight locations. “Five years later, we became friends … I told him, ‘You embarrassed me, so when you sell this bar, you’d better sell it to me.’”
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“Milt saw my ID and announced to the whole bar, ‘We have a newbie!’” Johnson said.
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He recalled the first time he’d visited the bar and Lennox carded him. Johnson said he’d known the previous owners since he first came out at 21 years old. Johnson said he would have thrown a party under better circumstances. 3 since purchasing the Apartment Lounge from Ed Ladner and Milt Lennox. Johnson observed his ninth anniversary as owner on Jan. Bob Johnson, center, bought the Apartment Lounge from Milt Lennox, left, and Ed Ladner in 2012. Johnson said this translates to the business losing almost an entire year of peak business hours (11 p.m.-2 a.m.), which at capacity is 130 customers. State executive orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19 forced the Apartment Lounge to close for most of 2020 with outside service for less than half of the bar’s regular customers and mandated closing at 11:30 p.m. “We’re more than bartenders and managers here, we’re family.” “Coming out is one of the hardest experiences someone will have usually, and it’s important to have a safe place where there are people you can talk to and who will understand you,” Johnson said.
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Michigan’s oldest operating LGBTQ bar is in danger of closing for good because of COVID-19.Ĭurrent owner Bob Johnson recently launched a GoFundMe campaign to save the Apartment Lounge from closing down before he hopes to reopen for indoor customers in the spring.Īs a business, the Apartment Lounge received only $23,100 from the Small Business Association for its PPP Loan. Johnson is asking for $55,500, most of which will be used to pay for the bar’s rent, but he added he will give $21,000 directly to staff to help them get through the pandemic.Īs of Monday morning, the bar raised $3,540.