Robert "Bob" Ontiveros

Robert "Bob" Ontiveros

August 17, 1938-February 8, 2022

Robert "Bob" Ontiveros, founder of major Quad Cities employer Group O and dedicated philanthropist, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, at home with his wife, Blenda, and other family members by his side. He was 83.

Born Aug. 17, 1938, Bob was the third of 11 children of John and Josephine Ontiveros, who raised their family in an 800-square-foot, two-bedroom house on the west end of Moline, Illinois, now known as the Floreciente neighborhood. From these humble beginnings, Bob grew to become one the nation's most successful Latino entrepreneurs and philanthropists.

At Moline High School, Bob excelled at wrestling and track & field. After suffering a serious elbow injury that ended his wrestling career, he joined the school's basketball team to stay active and social with his peers.

Following his high school graduation, Bob worked his way through one year at the University of Cincinnati followed by one year at Moline Community College, now Blackhawk Community College. While at Moline Community College, he met Blenda Crummer of Freeport, Illinois. She was a nursing student at Moline Lutheran Hospital, now UnityPoint Health – Trinity. They got married in 1960, settled in Rock Island and had two boys, Christopher and Gregg.

Supported by a few local investors, they founded Bi-State Packaging in 1974. Bi-State Packaging, now known as Group O, was located on the far east end of Moline in a 2,000-square-foot building with two small offices. Bob drove the family station wagon that doubled as the company delivery vehicle, and Blenda covered all office functions, including quotes, sales orders, and eventually, as the company grew, payroll.

Today, Group O is one of the largest Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S. The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce ranks the company as one of the top five Latino-owned businesses in the country with revenues over $500 million and more than 1,000 employees.

While growing the family business, Bob and Blenda enjoyed a very active social life with decades-long friends. Golf at Oakwood Country Club and Short Hills Country Club in the Quad Cities and Longboat Key Club in Longboat Key, Florida, was among his many favorite pastimes. Others included world travel, cycling, running, snowmobiling, boating, skiing and handball.

Another major accomplishment was being named one of six 2013 State of Illinois Lincoln Award honorees, the State's highest honor, recognizing his professional and community achievements. Other notable recognitions include an Outstanding Community Leadership award from the State of a Illinois Comptroller, a Legacy Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the National Minority Supplier Development Council, the Chicago Minority Business Development Council and Negocios Now.

He is also an inductee of the Minority Business Hall of Fame, the Black Hawk College Alumni Hall of Fame, the Junior Achievement of the Heartland Business Hall of Fame and the Jeremiah Milbank Society, a national society that honors individuals who give $10,000 or more to the Boys and Girls Clubs. In addition, he is a recipient of the Western Illinois University Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (along with Blenda) and an honorary doctorate from Augustana College. He previously served on Augustana's Board of Trustees along with many other local, state and national organizations.

In retirement, Bob knew how to live in the present and make the most of each day. He exercised daily, maintained connections with longtime friends through daily emails and phone calls, relished time with his family, including grandchildren and great grandchildren, and noted daily highlights of his meetings in a journal.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Maria Elena, Lawrence, Rita and Steven. He is survived by his siblings, John (Laura), Frank (Lorna), Christine (Jeff) Reem, Joanne (Ray) Bender, Michael and Cindy (Dave) Newton; his sons, Christopher (Pamela) and Gregg; his grandchildren, Maria (Jack Cullen), Allie, Dana, Will, Josie and Kendall; and great grandchildren Emma, Stella and Anna Catherine.

A celebration of life for family and friends will be held this spring at the new Mercado on Fifth building.

Trimble Funeral Home & Crematory, Moline, is serving the Ontiveros family. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Bob's honor to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley or Mercado on Fifth.

Stories and condolences may be shared at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.