Judy Kunza (1940-2012) left her job at Western Publishing to open Jo'Dee's in 1970. It was only one year after Stonewall, but Judy already recognized the need for a hometown bar where people could just be themselves. She had endured the embarassment of an "arranged marriage" at age 18. Through women's sports, she'd met a lot of people who wanted a safe, comfortable, welcoming space for themselves in Racine.

Jo'Dee's quickly became Racine's one and only queer safe space, as well as an outspoken champion for the local community and related causes. For years, Jo'Dee's was the second longest-operating gay bar in the state.

However, it wasn't always safe: in October 1977, Judy was shot by a customer inside the bar.

Faced with a declining neighborhood, increasing costs, and the absence of Judy's visionary leadership, Jo'Dees closed permanently in May 2014 after 44 years in business.