Herman Kneer

Herman J. "Buddy" Kneer, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully Thursday, May 26, 2011, at home in Santa Maria, Calif.

Buddy was born Dec. 20, 1927, in Paducah, Ky.

He graduated from St. Mary's Academy in Paducah and attended Xavier College in Cincinnati before entering the U.S. Army. Following his days in the Army, he returned to Paducah and joined his father at Rubel Dry Goods. After his father's passing, Buddy became president of Rubel Dry Goods and remained there for more than 20 years.

Survivors include his wife, Ann Kneer of Santa Maria; four children, Lynda Gibson (Jake) of Bowling Green, Ky., Mark Kneer (Claire) of Cape Girardeau, Steve Kneer (Cindy) of Paducah, and Carol Walker (Ronnie) of Nashville, Tenn. Buddy was blessed with nine grandchildren, Kerry and Drew Gibson, Dr. Joey Kneer, Nicholas and Nathan Karnes, Marisha and Kelly Kneer, Zach Walker and Brad Peck.

There will be a visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Milner and Orr Funeral Home in Paducah.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Thomas Moore Church.

Burial will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery.