Robert Joseph Knueven

Sunday morning October 15, 2023 we lost a good man…in a world that has few.

Robert (Bob) Joseph Knueven passed peacefully at a rehab facility on the eastside of Cincinnati, near where he had spent most of his life. He was a graduate of Indian Hill High School, the community in which he was raised and spent his formative years. Bob was gifted in mathematics, construction, and handicrafts - hobbies he pursued in his youth and beyond. He attained his Bachelor’s degree in Business and later his Master’s degree in Accounting, both from his beloved Xavier University. While at Xavier, Bob took part in the ROTC program, which led him to several years of active duty in the United States Army and decades of service in the Army Reserves, where he specialized in teaching the Air Defense Artillery, retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel. His awards and decorations included the Meritorious Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Bob’s accomplishments were significant enough that he was inducted into Xavier University’s “ROTC Hall of Fame” in 2017.

Bob began his professional career at Ernst & Ernst accounting (Senior Manager-Audit) in downtown Cincinnati. While commuting to this place of work he met the love of his life, Diane, who would later become his wife. He saw her laughing with fellow bus riders and thought she seemed “fun;” she saw him and thought he was handsome but looked “sort of lonely.” They struck up a conversation and the romance of a lifetime blossomed.

Bob’s professional accomplishments were equally impressive to his military service. After Ernst & Ernst, he worked at Deaconess Hospital (Assistant Administrator -Finance), Arthur Anderson & Co (Audit Manager). He then was a Vice President and Director of Finance at Mercy Hospitals for over two decades, helping set the foundation for their significant growth. He was the leader of several start-ups, including a telecommunications company, was a consultant for local accounting services, and, near the end of his career, served as the CFO of Glenmary Home Missionaries, who provides needed resources to rural Appalachia.

Bob’s service to others and philanthropy even eclipses his impressive professional resume. He was heavily involved with Clermont County’s Habitat for Humanity and Restoc’s efforts to renovate portions of Over the Rhine to low-income housing. He volunteered weekly at Brown County’s Veteran’s Home and delivered bread and canned goods for Hope Emergency to Brown County’s rural residents on a weekly basis. Bob was a passionate supporter of Chatfield College, where he taught accounting, volunteered at events, served on their board, and helped out on landscaping and maintenance projects. He also volunteered with the Knights of Columbus for two full months helping to repair parts of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. This list does his selflessness no justice, as the number of wheel chair accessible ramps he has built, roofs he has patched, porches he’s repaired, or houses he has painted, all for no charge, cannot be measured…they are numerous.

Bob provided his wisdom and leadership by serving on the following Boards of Trustees:

• American Legion Post 318 Cincinnati

• Alcohol & Chemical Abuse Council - Butler County

• Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants

• Society for Advancement of Management

• Financial Executives International

• Hospice of Butler County and Miami Valley

• Hospital Financial Management Association

• Southern Ohio Farmland Preservation Association

• Chatfied College

• Rural Life Commission of St Martin Deanery

• Lake Lorelei Property Association

• Pregnancy Resource Center –Georgetown

Also sharing his financial expertise with the next generation, Bob taught both undergraduate and graduate level classes at:

• Chatfield College

• Southern State Community College

• Xavier University

• University of Cincinnati

• Northern Kentucky University

Bob was a devout Catholic and was a servant in many ways to Catholic organizations such as St. Andrew, St. Veronica, St. Patrick, the Knights of Columbus, and Chatfield College. He was an enormous Xavier Musketeers basketball fan, as both a men’s and women’s season ticket holder, and also loved Cincinnati Reds Baseball.

Bob is preceded in death by his loving wife, Diane (nee Brisson). He is survived by his brother John (Gwen) Knueven, his children Robert Jr (Barb) Knueven, Laura (Steve) Keller, Vincent (Karen) Knueven, and Joel (Vickie)Knueven; his niece Lynn and nephew Randy; his grandchildren Jacob (Jordan), Samuel, Natalie, Garrett, Ashley, Logan, Quinn, and Sawyer; as well as his recently arrived great grandson, George, who thankfully arrived while Bob was still well enough to spend some time with him.

It has been said that the measure of a man, is how they treat another person, who can do them absolutely no good. By that measure, Bob Knueven endeavored to improve the lives of literally thousands of people; he gave of his time, expertise, and financial resources, all solely for the benefit of others, with no expectations of something in return…A life well lived.

In honor of Bob's life, you may make memorial donations to The Alzheimer's Association or Habitat for Humanity by clicking the links below.