James R. Mckneight

James “Jim Sr.” Robert McKneight was born April 18, 1937, in Connersville, Indiana to Clara and Ernest McKneight and was doted on by his three older sisters.

Jim was a proud Eagle Scout and attended two World Jamborees. He graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Engineering and was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He remained a lifelong Boilermaker fan. It was at Purdue where he met and married the love of his life, the late Hermine (Mimi) Murphy McKneight. Jim and Mimi shared six incredible decades and together inspired deeply-rooted values of loyalty and education. Jim was the co-founder of Craig & McKneight engineering firm in Indianapolis where he spent his career designing bridges, state parks, and highways. As the first person in his family to obtain a college degree, he encouraged his children, grandchildren and everyone he knew to pursue higher education, especially at Purdue. Jim will be remembered for his love of family, friends and neighbors, golf, politics, good jokes, Frank Sinatra, Florida vacations, his award-winning tailgate parties, his Jitterbug skills and his contagious laughter.

Jim is survived by his sisters, June Miller and Joanne Broedling, three children, Mimi (Jeff) Vanarsdall, Jim (Carrie) McKneight, and Megan (Mark) Meredith; five grandchildren; one great grandson.

A memorial gathering will be from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Friday, February 1, 2019, at Flanner Buchanan – Carmel, 325 East Carmel Drive. Online condolences may be shared by visiting flannerbuchanan.com.