On January 24rd, 2022 Robert Glenn Knerler Jr. went to be by his wife's side in Heaven.
He was born at home in Pittsburg, Pa. on Feb 11, 1939. To many he was called Bob but to family he was known as Robbie. Second child of Robert Sr. and Christine Elizabeth (Welte) Knerler. He was brother to Charlotte McGervey, Christine Ziemianski, Kathleen
Herzog, Norma Lou Knerler, Mary Ellen Weber and Warren Knerler.
In 1961, after graduating from St. Lukes High School in Carnegie, Pa. in 1957, he went on to join the Air Force.
He worked with Logistics and Supply but continued his education studying Computer Science. While stationed at Little Rock AFB in Arkansas, he went to visit some friends in Malvern where he would meet the woman that would become his wife and on Oct 11, 1963, he married Janis Beverly Dallas. In July they welcomed the first of 4 daughters, Beverly Ann (Flowers). She would soon be followed by Kimberly Ruth Knerler, Rebecca Yvonne (Smith), and Gretchen Hannah (Powell). These daughters would join Bob and Janis and her 3 sons (Michael Allen Kemp, Billy Mac Kemp and Ronald Eugene Bennett, in traveling as a military family. Some of the places they lived was Laredo, Texas, Dover, Delaware, Bangkok, Thailand, Clark AFB, Philippines, San Angelo, Texas, San Antonio, Texas, back to the Philippines, Blythville, Arkansas, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, MacDill AFB, Florida. He also served two tours in Vietnam. It was at MacDill that Bob finally separated from the Air Force after 22 years, 1 month and 25 days. He retired as a Master Sargent. He finally settled down to one state- Virginia.
He soon found work as a Systems Analysis for Computer Science Corporation. As much as he loved the military, this job he loved the most. He worked many government contracts which includes places such as the Post Office General in DC and the Egyptian Air Force and spent a year in Saudi Arabia with his wife by his side.
Robert was a lover of the great outdoors. He loved taking long walks in the woods and teaching his children and grandchildren about the wonders of Mother Nature.
Another passion was serving on the board of Business Development Assistment Group helping women, minorities and small businesses with services and technical services to start their own businesses.
Robert is survived by seven children, 20 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, four sisters, Charlotte McGervey, Kathleen Herzog, Christine Ziemianski, and Mary Ellen Weber numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Janis Beverly Knerler (Dallas), his brother Warren Knerler, sister Norma Lou Knerler, grandsons Stephen A. Knerler and Dylan Ward.
Services will be held at Culpepper National Cemetery in Culpepper Virginia on Friday January 28, 2022 at 12pm.
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