By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MARIEMONT - Robert Christian Huenefeld hailed from a family of entrepreneurs.

His great-grandfather, Ernst Huenefeld, started the Huenefeld Co., a kerosene stove factory, in Cincinnati in 1872.

In 1967, Robert Huenefeld and his father, the late Paul Huenefeld, bought Dee Sign Co., a small sign-maker in what is now West Chester Township. In the early days, Robert Huenefeld and his wife and two kids piled into the station wagon and drove around the country to real estate conventions to advance the business.

Today Dee Sign Co. has more than 175 employees, and makes real estate signs for customers as far away as Singapore.

Robert Huenefeld died Monday at Hospice of Cincinnati from complications of kidney disease. The Mariemont resident was 67.

"He was one of the smartest people I have ever known, but he didn't flaunt his knowledge or abilities," said Terry Marty of Wyoming, a longtime friend.

"He was able to bring any topic down to any level that was needed."

Mr. Huenefeld was born and raised in Cincinnati, where he graduated from Walnut Hills High School. He went on to Oberlin College, where he was on the swim team and was co-captain of the lacrosse team.

In 1958 he made a trip around the world and climbed the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland.

He earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in 1960 and was dean of students at the university until returning to Cincinnati to join the family's stove business in 1962.

He worked for the Huenefeld Co. until it was sold in 1966, then purchased Dee Sign Co. the next year.

"I've known Bob since we were in the Air Force together in the early '60s," Marty recalled. In the Reserves from 1962 until 1968, the two men were called to active duty only once - during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962.

They spent a month at Clinton County Air Force Base waiting to be sent to Florida. But they were deactivated and sent home instead.

"He was a great guy," Marty said. "I enjoyed his personality and his sense of humor. Bob, being as smart as he was, always had an opinion."

Since his retirement from Dee Sign Co. in 2002, his son, Brad of Mason, has served as president.

Mr. Huenefeld was a member of Bethesda Hospital's board of trustees from 1972 until it became Bethesda Inc. in 1983. He served on that board until his death. He had also been on the board of TriHealth since 1998 and on the board of the Bethesda Foundation since 1975.

In addition to his son, Brad, survivors include his wife of 39 years, Marie; another son, Kirk of Mariemont; his mother, Helen Huenefeld of Hyde Park, and a brother, William of Seattle.

The funeral is 1 p.m. today at Norman Chapel, Spring Grove Cemetery.

Memorials: Hospice of Cincinnati, P.O. Box 633597, Cincinnati, OH 45263-3597; or Convalescent Hospital for Children, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com