‘Every day is Father’s Day’ in Warren, Pennsylvania

Goran Kajan
Goran Kajan

Staff Writer

Jun 17, 2022

Ask almost any Lowe’s associate and they’ll tell you their coworkers are like family. But for a handful of red vests at the Lowe’s in Warren, Pennsylvania – they’re actual family. In fact, three sets of family members all work together at the store: a father/son, a father/daughter and a grandfather/grandson. Ahead of Father’s Day this year, meet some of these special associates who work (and celebrate) together. 

(Grand)Father’s Day
He’s a D.J., a drummer and his grandson plays bass with him in a rock band. 

“We do a lot of things together as a team,” said 69-year-old Earl Keeney Jr. about his 30-year-old partner-in-crime and grandson, Brandon Zurkan. “When he sees me play, he has a big grin on his face and he’s thinking, ‘That’s my grandfather kicking the crap out of those drums!’”

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Earl and Brandon spend a lot of time together, personally and professionally. They’re both associates at the Lowe’s in Warren, Pennsylvania where Brandon works as a Pro customer service associate and Earl works in the paint department.  Like any proud grandad, Earl loves working with his grandson and can barely contain his pride, exclaiming, “He’s already gotten two promotions since he’s been here!”

Earl loves getting to know people by their name and is happy to spend his retirement working at Lowe’s, serving his community.

It’s a wonderful environment - this is my work family, and I like being here with my [actual] family. My grandson and even my granddaughter worked here at one point.

Earl Keeney Jr., Grandfather

So it was no surprise when asked about their plans for Father’s Day, Earl’s answer was simple: “Every day is Father’s Day”.

Keeping It In The Family
Scott Vanguilder, 51, and Stephanie Vanguilder, 23, have been working together for two years at Lowe’s. Scott works in Tools & Hardware as a customer service associate and Stephanie works in receiving. 

Stephanie is a recent college graduate and started working at Lowe’s with her dad because it offered her the flexibility she needed to finish her degree in Business Administration.

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“Lowe’s really helps their employees with their schedule so that they can have some free time and go to school,” Scott said.

Although they work in different departments, they spend their breaks together. The time together at work, Stephanie says, has given her a new outlook. 

“It gives me a different perspective [of him] than when I was growing up.”

They plan to spend their Father’s Day fishing and having a cookout at home.

Like Father, Like Son
Bobby Atkins, 27, is going to school for Human Resources and like Stephanie, started working at Lowe’s because of the time it gave him to go to school. His dad, 57-year-old Michael Atkins, had already been working at the store for over five years.

Michael, who is retired from the grocery business, is happy to spend time and work with his son. 

“With how busy his life is with school, sports and everything, it’s great to see him every day at work,” Michael said.

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Between his studies and college football, Bobby appreciates the time spent working with his dad. When he started at Lowe’s two and a half months ago, he heard one particular phrase over and over: You’re just like your dad.  A compliment Michael was happy to receive.

For Father’s Day, Bobby got his dad tickets to see the Pittsburgh Steelers play in October.