George Robert,"Bob" Knight..... Age 72

VISITATION: 5-7PM FRIDAY JANUARY 15TH - EDDY-BIRCHARD FUNERAL HOME

SERVICE: 7PM FRIDAY JANUARY 15TH WITH MILITARY HONORS- EDDY-BIRCHARD FUNERAL HOME

FOLLOWED BY CREMATION.

BURIAL: BURIAL OF ASHES AT LATER DATE

MEMORIALS: SHINING STAR FOUNDATION, ASPEN, CO

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George Robert “Bob” Knight age 72 formerly from Olathe and Parker KS, passed away Monday night January 11, 2016 at Delmar Gardens in Lenexa, KS surrounded by his loving family.

Bob was born on May 18, 1943 in Kansas City, Kansas to David Edward and Susan Martha (Gunn) Knight. He was the youngest of four children. He attended grade school in Kansas City until the family moved to Parker when he was in 7 ^th grade.  Around the age of 16, after his sister Jan got married and moved out, Bob left home.  He wanted to travel and see the beach – so he moved to California.

Bob was living in East Los Angeles when he got drafted into the Army in 1965.  He was stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama and Fort Benning, Georgia and sent to Vietnam shortly thereafter. He was discharged in 1967, after2 years in the service.

Bob married twice for a short time before the Army. In September 1968, he married Gloria Teresa “Teri” Acosta.   They had two daughters Dana and Jenifer and lived in in Southern California. Although the couple divorced in July of 1974 and Teri and the girls moved to Colorado shortly thereafter, Bob vowed to be where his daughters were, so he followed them to Colorado.   As much as Bob loved the beach in California, he loved his girls more.  Bob and Teri continued to be close friends which made it easier for Bob to continue to be a big part of his girls’ lives. Bob remarried briefly two more times after Teri – first to Debe Jo Dunham and then Gwen Dixon.

Bob was a heck of a salesman first selling cars in Los Angeles and then Colorado and Kansas.  At every dealership he worked, Bob was always the top salesman.

The most important thing to Bob was his family. He always had the best times when he was with not only, his daughters but his extended family. He was the best Uncle, always spending time with his nieces and nephews teaching them all he knew – the good and the pranks.  He was known as Uncle Bob, not only by his nieces and nephews, but by everyone around town.  Bob loved kids, whether they were his own kids, his grandkids, nieces, nephews or the kids  he saw on TV’s “America’s Got Talent” - he loved watching them learn new things and develop their talents and give it their all! Bob was very witty and, as most of us know, quite the prankster!  He would do anything to get people to laugh. He was close to his brothers, Larry and John David also known as “Sonny”, and especially close to his sister, Jan Page.

While his health allowed, Bob loved to golf and was quite good.  He also enjoyed gambling at the dog track and the boats and won most of the time!  He liked the Broncos but loved the Chiefs and the Royals.  He was thrilled that he lived long enough to see the Royals win the World Series again in 2015.  He enjoyed Mexican food anytime he could get it and the spicier the better!  He learned how to make his father-in-law’s yummy green chile and made it every Christmas in his honor for many many years.  He passed this tradition down to his children and grandchildren. Bob always had a huge jar of Skittles for the kids and all his visitors.

Bob’s heart was filled with love and pride for his family, especially his daughters. And once they started giving him Grandkids, his life was complete.  He would often say his grandkids and great grandson were “his world”.  He attended as many events in their lives as he could -- sporting events, school activities, boy scouts, gymnastics, cheerleading and even attended all the banquets!   Even his grandkid’s friends knew him as “Papa” and greeted him with hugs.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Larry Knight, John David “Sonny” Knight and sister, Jan Page.

He is survived by his daughters, Dana (Danny) Hogan of Olathe, KS and Jenifer (Obed) Rodriguez of Arvada, CO, five Grandchildren; Zachary Hogan, 25, Nicholas Hogan, 24, Olivia Hogan, 17, Diego Rodriguez, 10, and Morelia Rodriguez, 7, and one great-grandson Daniel Hogan, 2.  He is also survived by many other family members and friends.