Constance Jeannette HORN

HORN Constance Jeannette (Morman) Constance Jeannette (Morman) Horn - "Connie" to the thousands who knew her - was born to Gilbert Henry Morman and Norma Elizabeth Beutler in the 107-degree heat of July 15, 1934: an occasion of which her mother would remind her annually on her birthday. It was high noon when she came into the world, and the entire town of Ottawa, Ohio, knew of her arrival, because they could smell the ether wafting down the street as they walked home from St. Peter & Paul Church a half-mile away. Connie is perhaps best known as the proprietor and grande dame of popular Toledo lunchspot Grumpy's Deli, where she prided herself in instructing the waitstaff (including DC education maverick and Time magazine cover girl Michele Rhee) in the fine art of setting a proper table and "keeping their butts moving." Connie knew everyone's name and their business. Along with their children, grandchildren, co-workers, suitors, ex-es, enemies and frenemies. She was a walking, laughing encyclopedia of Who's Who in Toledo (and even "Perrysburg"), and could always be found sitting at a table with her customers swapping stories and anecdotes. She opened Grumpy's Deli in earnest in 1984, with husband Jeff and daughter Jennifer, among the rows of bolts and screws in Horn Hardware on Broadway - a family business since Jeff's grandfather opened it in 1911 - serving doughnuts and coffee to the handymen who would purchase their supplies every morning. Often, customers inquired that if Jeff was Grumpy, who was Connie? "Snow White," she would reply. The Grumpy's recipe of homemade baked goods, hearty lunches and service with a wry smile proved irresistible, and soon the business transitioned into a thriving deli in a hardware museum. It wasn't long before Grumpy's Deli was the see-and-be-seen hotspot for downtown Toledo's IN crowd. It was Connie's idea to keep the party going by opening the deli on weekend evenings as a dinner theatre, featuring the musical comedy revue "Oh, No! Not Toledo!" - which enjoyed a sold-out run for several years. In 1989, Grumpy's moved to Oak Harbor and the customers followed. But Toledo beckoned, and within 18 months the deli had relocated back to the city in a new location on Michigan Street, for 10 years, eventually moving to its current location on Huron Street in 2000. During this tenure, Connie loved to plan and orchestrate parties and special events for her customers. Grumpy's proved to be a unique and ideal setting for small weddings, rehearsal dinners, baby showers, and even marriage proposals. Connie loved to read and garden and was a voracious news and history junkie. But she especially loved to travel: starting with France, Germany, Austria and Italy with her first husband and daughters. Then on to pheasant hunting in Denmark with Jeff, Amsterdam and London with daughter Lynn, a trip to the gardens of Great Britain with daughter Jennifer, a cruise from Lisbon to Barcelona with family, adventures in Morocco with daughter Sara, then numerous trips with both the Toledo Art Museum and Overseas Adventure Travel to Sicily, China, Egypt, Turkey, Tunis and Vietnam, where she "adopted" a granddaughter. Little surprise she loved meeting - and talking with - the locals wherever she journeyed. She regrettably was unable to make her last planned expedition to Bhutan and Nepal. Connie is preceded in death by brother Dr. James Morman and sister Judy Weaver. She leaves behind her husband of 34 years, Jeff Horn, and brother Jack (Debbie) Morman of Mt. Clemens, Michigan. Her family legacy also includes daughters Lynn (Tom) Sojak of Denver, Jennifer (Steve) Shemak of Toledo, Sara Bauman of Toledo and grandchildren Dustin (Jemma) Hostetler of Toledo, Sam (Julianne) Hostetler of Denver, Benjamin Wittemore of Toledo, Maggie Bauman of Nyack, NY, and adopted granddaughter Mai Hoa of Da Lat, Vietnam. Nieces, nephews and their families include Holly (Keith) Lily of Austin, TX, Matt (Megan) Morman of Detroit, Angela (Rich) Guinn of Ada, Ohio, and Jameson (Lisa) Smith of Eagan, MN. Connie passed away on Saturday, September 25, 2010, under the wonderful care of the nurses and staff at Hospice of Northwest Ohio. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Luke's Hospital, The Victory Center, or Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Connie and Jeff are retiring this November after 26 years. Grumpy's Deli will continue business as usual, cookies in the oven with a new generation of family at the helm. A memorial party celebrating her life will be held some time in the future.