Knittel, Robert E., passes away on Thursday, November 21, 2013. Dear husband of the late Elizabeth “Dolly” Knittel, dear father of George Knittel, David Knittel, & Rita Knittel Anderson; dear father-in-law of Friedrike Knittel & Edwin Anderson; dear brother-in-law of Ann D’Agostin & “Pat” Knittel; proud grandfather of Jeffrey (Atrifary) Peterson and Gregory (Camille) Peterson; ground great-grandfather of Nicholas “Niko” Peterson; beloved brother of Sister Rita Knittel, S.S.N.D, & the late Sister Eleanor Knittel, Paul (Helen) Knittel, and John Knittel. Born in Holy Ghost Parish in St. Louis, MO, Bob graduated from St. Louis University High School. He served in the Pacific during World War II as a Signalman in the Navy. He met Dolly in 1946, and they married in 1948. Bob attended University of Missouri at Columbia, where he earned a degree in Journalism. He and Dolly raised their children primarily in southern Illinois while Bob worked in Community Development at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. While there, he earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology. After retiring from the University in 1974, Bob and Dolly moved to St. Louis, MO. In 1992, Bob realized his dream of building a house in Vero Beach, FL. Dolly passed away unexpectedly in 2006. In 2009, Bob returned to southern Illinois to be near family. He was living in Missouri Veterans Home in St. Louis at the time of his death. During his lifetime, Bob was an Anthropologist, Scoutmaster, playwright, author, poet, inventor, music producer, veteran, community organizer, professor, amateur chef, inspiration, and, to some, a Japanese gardener. Farewell Dr. Bob!