Robert John Kneesel

Of Arlington Heights, Illinois

Robert John "Bob" Kneesel, 97, devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and beloved friend, passed away on February 9, 2023. Bob was born in Chicago, IL to John and Martha Kneesel, on January 4, 1926. Robert "Bob" met the love of his life, Annie, 80 years ago when she was 15 and he was 17. They were married May 4th, 1946. Bob and Annie and their young family, moved from Chicago to Arlington Heights in 1966, to a home they built on Maude St., where they lived together, until Annie's death, in July 2021.

Bob spent his entire career working for AC Davenport Co., which eventually became part of Rubbermaid. If you knew Bob, you knew, he was a master salesman.

Always the "jokester" he was legend for his quick wit and infectious humor. He retired at 65 and took up golf and bowling and driving the widowed ladies to plays and St. James Seniors social events. In addition to that, cooking and bartending at the Knights of Columbus Hall, where he and his two buddies, Hans Radtke and Eddie Chiappetta, were known as the "Hickory Nuts". He was a 4th Degree Knight with St. James Holy Rosary Council Chapter and was an honor guard at many funerals and church events. One of his perpetual jokes was he called funerals, "FUN-erals" and said when he died "make sure to wake him face down in his Glueckert Funeral Home bowling shirt, so he could do some advertising and get a 10% discount".

A lifelong Cubs Fan, Bob and Annie's dates consisted of going to Cubs games every weekend, paying 60 cents to sit in the bleachers for a double header and sharing two Cokes and a hot dog. During the 2016 World Series, Annie and Bob were interviewed by Chicago ABC/7 Sports about their, then, 70 years of love of the Cubs and each other! In May 2021, they celebrated their 75th Wedding anniversary with a Marriage blessing at Mass, followed by a luncheon celebration with family. Sadly, Bob lost the two loves of his life that year, his loving daughter Linda and beloved wife and anchor, Annie, only five months apart. It was then that Bob moved to Las Vegas to live with his son Bob's family. He was lovingly cared for by Bob, daughter-in-law, Valerie, and granddaughter, Erin Kneesel. He loved the attention from his seven Vegas great-grands and furry pals, Wilson and Truman.

Bob was an Army Air Corps World War II Veteran, serving in the Philippines. He was a "one of a kind" guy who will be forever missed by his family and countless friends. The "Funny Grampa Bob" stories will live forever with his children, grandchildren, and huge extended family. Bob was truly, a friend to everyone.

He was preceded in death by wife, Anna Kneesel; daughter, Linda Martha Barnard; father, John Kneesel; mother, Martha Kneesel, many brothers and sisters and countless friends.

Bob is survived by sons, Thomas (Beth) Kneesel and Robert (Valerie) Kneesel; his grandchildren, Justin (Shelly) Barnard, Darren (Laine) Barnard, Shawna Kneesel, Katherine Kneesel, Erin Kneesel, Brian (Laura) Kneesel, Annie (Peter) Bednarski, Tara (James) Warnsdorfer, and Susan Kneesel; his great-grandchilden, Kiley Spanel; Quinn Kneesel; Xavier Warnsdorfer; Autumn Warnsdorfer; Lorenzo Kneesel; Giada Kneesel; Matteo Kneesel, Tommy Bednarski, Grace, Leah, Jacob, Will, and Clara Barnard; his son-in-law Greg Barnard; and his beloved nephew, Frank (Melanie) Davenport, Jr.

Visitation from 9:00 am until the time of Funeral Mass at 10:00 am, March 16, 2023 at St. James Catholic Church, 831 North Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to The Benedictine Sisters of Chicago, St. Scholastica Monestary, 7430 N. Ridge Blvd., Chicago, IL 60645-1913 or the Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, 1 Breakthrough Way, Las Vegas, NV 89135, www.cure4thekids.org.