WESTERN HILLS PRESS Your Community Press newspaper serving Western Hills, Cheviot, Green Township and other West Cincinnati neighborhoods
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2020 | BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS | PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
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Businesses, churches pay tribute to West Side icon Dan ‘Schmoe’ Wenger Segann March Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK
Levi Kinzie, of Delhi Township, received a special gift from "Mr. Rob" Monday morning. PROVIDED/ALI KINZIE
3-year-old receives gift from Rumpke friend Madeline Mitchell Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK
Unlike most of us, 3-and-a-half year old Levi Kinzie lives for Monday mornings. Why? Mondays are garbage day in Delhi Township. And that means Levi gets to see his friend “Mr. Rob,” also known as Rumpke employee Rob Wagner. Wagner said Levi runs out each Monday morning, spewing random facts, explaining what images are on his paja-
mas that day and telling “Mr. Rob” what he ate for breakfast. “He can hear (the garbage truck) all the way down the street,” Levi’s mother, Ali Kinzie, said. Kinzie told The Enquirer that Monday is the only day of the week Levi is allowed to wake her up early, so they can go outside and watch the garbage truck come by. She said this has been a weekly tradition for about two years now. “He started going out and just kind of sitting on the porch and watching. And then, for the past year at least, he’s been
running down and talking to (Wagner),” Kinzie said. “He is very loud. So he yells out every morning: ‘Hi, Mr. Rob!’ ” When Wagner replies with a “hi, Levi,” the boy looks up at his mom every time, she said, and squeals, “Mr. Rob knows my name!” This Monday, Wagner came with a special gift for Levi: a recycling truck playset, from Walmart. “Thanks for making me smile every See FRIENDS, Page 2A
Churches and businesses across Cincinnati’s West Side are paying tribute to “no ordinary Schmoe” by changing their signage. Schmoe is Dan Wenger, the longtime owner of Schmoe’s Collison and Custom Detailing on Bridgetown Road. The 57-year-old, known for his generosity toward others, passed away suddenly on July 29 from kidney failure. Schmoe is his childhood nickname. “Dan opened his heart to many organizations and people,” said Jason Laine, a family friend. “I can’t think of one West Side event that he didn’t sponsor. He didn’t do this to brag or boast — he did it to show love and support for his community.” Wenger was diagnosed with liver cancer last October and completed a round of radiation chemotherapy, said Susan Wenger, his wife of 22 years. He has one daughter, Tera Furr, and two grandchildren, Kaila and Brayden. “We just caught it so late,” she recently told the Enquirer. “I had faith that we were going to get through this. We fought like hell.” Throughout his 26 years as a businessman, Wenger sponsored bowling teams, racing teams, softball teams, and several church festivals. When children approached him at events, he would give them $20 to go have fun, Susan Wenger said. “He gave to every benefi t we went to,” Susan Wenger said. “It was nothing for him to drop $1,000 at each benefi t. He just never stopped giving or helping people.” He’s also a member of Southern Ohio Bikers for three years. Oftentimes, Wenger would help Hillebrand Nursing & Rehabilitation Center staff with their car troubles without hesitation, said Administrator See WENGER, Page 2A
Dan and Susie Wenger. COURTESY OF SUSIE WENGER
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