James Edward (Jim) Korb, aged 69, passed away after an 11-month-long battle with cancer on May 2, 2024, at his home in Freeport, Florida. He also unfortunately suffered from Alzheimers for the last 4 years. Jim was born on July 6, 1954, in Southwest Atlanta, Georgia, to Harry Jerome Korb and Ann Elizabeth Bowen.
He was one of five rambunctious boys in his family. Tales of their childhood antics are numerous and legendary. He remained in the Atlanta area most his life, but relocated to Florida with his wife of 24 years (and high school sweetheart), Connie, last year.
Hardworking, strong, kind and happy were common threads in how he was described by all who knew and loved him. His smile and laugh could be seen and heard across a room. He was truly the “toughest nice guy.”
Jim excelled at anything he was determined to, most notably boxing and cofounding a successful electrical contracting business, MacLean Riggins in 1980. His boxing career included more than 200 fights and numerous Golden Gloves tournament wins in the 1970s. He went on to work 472 bouts as a boxing referee.
At his day job, his work ethic & loyal relationships in the industry made him one of the most trusted names in Atlanta electrical subcontracting. He retired in 2020 after an impressive 41-year business partnership with Richard Ripley, and the company continues on now with their sons.
He loved riding motorcycles, and went on many rides with his son and trips with his wife and friends. The North Georgia mountains were among his favorite places to ride, and he built his dream log home in Jasper in 2012. A highlight of his international travels with Connie was time spent in Kenya on mission work, where they gifted a well to a small community that touched their hearts. He truly had a big heart, and an extraordinary love for children. His grandchildren brought him some of the greatest joy in his life.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother Gary Thomas (2017) and youngest brother John Fitzgerald, who died at birth in 1964.
He is survived by his wife Connie Dempsey Korb; son James Patrick Korb; daughter Elisabeth Korb Larson; step-daughters Tiffany Hancock Keever and Michelle Hancock Smith, along with all of their spouses and his many grandchildren. His surviving family also includes his older brother, Daniel Jerome Korb, and two younger brothers, Lawrence Joseph Korb and Patrick Joseph Korb, along with many in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Please join to celebrate and honor Jim’s life at Floral Hills Memory Gardens (3150 Lawrenceville Highway, Tucker, Georgia) at 2pm on Friday May 10, with a visitation from 12-2pm. Another visitation will be held from 4-8pm on Thursday May 9.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Jim’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org & click donate) or American Cancer Society (donate.cancer.org).
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