William James Korber

January 28, 1951 – September 28, 2017

William, known as Billy and then, Will became his name of choice. Will, a son, a brother, a husband, a dad, a brother-in-law, an uncle, a nephew, a cousin, and a friend to many sadly passed away in his sleep, unexpectedly, at his home in Florida, on Thursday, September 28, 2017.

Will, who never much wanted a fuss made about himself would probably say we are foolish to write up a tribute, but a tribute it is. I was honored that Linda, asked me if I would write the tribute and I agreed, but it has taken me some time, as it is hard to say goodbye to your brother and this is kind of like saying good-bye. This remembrance was put together with memories shared from Will's family; Linda, Caroline, Tammie, Terrie and myself, Heidi. We hope that while reading this, your own good memories are brought to mind and a smile it brings to you.

Billy was born at Vassar Brother's Hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York on a cold January day, the first child of William Burwell Korber and Marie Kathleen (Burns) Korber and although, I was yet to be born, I can guarantee, that the room was filled with so much love, that all of Poughkeepsie felt the warmth.

Billy was an only child for just a bit over a year, before his brother and lifelong friend came along. Robert (Bobby) David, born on February 2, 1952. All was fun for the brothers, until April 1, 1956 when I, Heidi Marie was born; now they had to learn to put up with a baby sister. Not to be outdone on the girls' verses boys in the family, the twins Tammie Jane and Terrie Jean arrived on September 7, 1958. There you have it, the Korber kids and yes, Will, was now the big brother, role model, mentor, guardian and the one to be in charge of his 4 younger siblings and that he did so very well.

When Will was born the family was living on the corner of Mesier Ave and Prospect Street, in Wappingers Falls, New York. Our family rented the house from Uncle Louie and Aunt Kay (Garrigan) Diehl. Lots of fun memories in that house; holidays, birthday parties, summer gatherings, camp outs in the yard, scout meetings, snow sledding down Prospect Street, (which the village would close off, just so we could sled), once we even used an old washing marching as our sled, neighbors who were friends, the Bostwicks, the Relyeas, the Fragetti's and more, whose names I've unfortunately forgotten over the years, but the memories were made and stayed with us just the same. Will is in all of these memories, being the one who lead the way, our big brother.

In 1960, our Mom and Dad bought their first and only home a few miles south on Dean Avenue in Hughsonville, New York. This is the house that we grew up in and just thinking about it brings a grin to my face. The snow storm the winter before we moved in with drifts up to the second floor windows, moving in, with the Tompkins family there to help us, making new friends, learning to adjust but Will was always there for us. He was the quiet one, the one who got things done, who we knew was in charge without it ever being said. Will was the peacemaker among us, which was certainly needed. With 5 kids, there was plenty of sibling fighting going on and I remember Will, always trying to get us to stop fighting and get along.

There are so many memories of growing up in Hughsonville, that the pages would go on and on, but suffice it to say, that life in the Korber Homestead kept the neighbors entertained and Will, is a part of all these memories. Snow forts, snowball fights, ice skating, biking everywhere, the chickens, roosters, dogs, cats, rabbits, the beast, as well as assorted wild creatures, canoeing on the creek, then carrying it back up the hill, broken windows, repaired before Mom got home (thanks to the Abbott sister's hardware store) motorcycles, assorted cars, climbing in the window when dad would lock us out, bbq's, drinking beer, music, Thanksgiving and Christmas shared with Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Mickie and the cousins and the list goes on and on. The Barn was also a part of everyday life. At one point, Will had his chemistry lab set up in there, yes along with all the hay for the animals, when one such experiment didn't go so well and caused a fire. With Will's guidance, we used buckets and the hose to put the fire out before the volunteer fire dept. got there. Unfortunately, Will's leg was burned but he knew to stop, drop and roll, which truly kept his leg from being burned more seriously. During this whole ordeal it was Will who kept us all safe.

Summertime found us spending our days at Snow Valley. It is where we would pass the days swimming in a spring fed lake, riding horses, hiking, dancing and having fun with summertime friends. Mom would drop us off in the morning before work and then she and dad would come down after work to have dinner. Will, was in charge of us during the day. Trying to keep track of the 4 of us was no easy task, but Mom, knew that Will would do the right thing and not drown us in the lake like our brother Bobby might do! Haha!

Will attended James S Evans Elementary School, then 2 years at Wappingers Junior High School before graduating in 1969 from Roy C Ketcham High School. While in high school, Will was a member of the wrestling team and the football team. Will was the first in our family to go on to higher education. He attended Dutchess Community College and then on to Marist College where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian history.

Dutchess Community College is also where Will, met Linda Cahill, his love, his friend, his soul mate and wife of 46 years.

Linda shared that she and Will had a ceramics class while in college, although at different times. Will would ride his motorcycle to pick Linda up after class and their teacher would say, "Oh your knight in shining armor is here." Little did he know that Will, loved swords, battle axes and suits of armor. Why, who could ever forget the infamous suit of armor affectionately named "Horace Bluetooth". Horace helped us to win many a Halloween costume contest in the local bars.

Will and Linda married on August 22, 1970. Still going to college and working meant roommates were still a part of their lives. Sharing several homes, with several family members and friends, led to many good stories for those of us lucky enough to be a part of the roommate living. Ok, I know some of you are now shaking your heads and laughing in remembrance of those times.

Did you know Will worked at the Smith Brothers Cough Drop factory in Poughkeepsie or at Lloyd's lumber in Wappingers? Just a couple of his many jobs in New York.

While sharing in that memory how can we forget the many wine tastings at the Brotherhood Winery or hiking in Minnewaska and Mohonk.

Will loved sailing. There was that boat he was building in Linda's parent's backyard and the one he sailed during a torrential storm to get it docked locally and I believe there was a catamaran, too. Adventures on the Hudson and beyond were the beginning of a lifelong love of sailing.

After all the years of playing, working, riding a motorcycle and just surviving in the cold and snow, Will and Linda decided it was time to leave it all behind and head south to Florida.

They arrived in Florida September 1978. After some time in Key West, Will and Linda made a home for themselves in Jensen Beach. The Indian River was their backyard where a sailboat was always anchored there to take them on new voyages. Will promptly got a job at Martin Downs Country Club in Palm City, as a golf cart mechanic and there he stayed for the next 30 years. Alas, that job ended but Will had made many friends and clients over the years so he continued those relationships, both socially and as the best mechanic in town. Will, then found employment at the Everglades Club in Palm Beach, where he worked both maintenance for the Shoppes on Worth Avenue and landscape in the Club. Will, liked the crew he worked with and his manager, Pam. Will talked of retirement but took one day at a time, so he continued to do the job he liked and put retirement on hold.

Will became a dad on August 23, 1980 when Caroline Marie was born. The joy and love shone through that tough exterior of his when holding that sweet little girl. She was Daddy's little girl and would continue to be everyday. He was not only supportive of Caroline's interests, but was also, always involved. He never missed her dance recitals and often took her to classes. When she took up riding he would take her to the barn and to the horse shows. When they joined the Twin Rivers Saddle Club he would make fences and set up the courses for the horse shows and was involved in the Laurel Oaks Pony Club when Caroline became a member. He bought a four-horse trailer so he could take Caroline and her friends to the shows. Will even took riding lessons himself. Will loved to sail and Scuba Dive. There were trips to Key West, Bimini, West End and Walkers Cay. Yet, he sold the sailboat and bought property in Indiantown where he could settle his family and the horses all in the same place.

Like all children, Caroline grew up, moved out and began to live her own life, which gave Will time to plan yearly trips for him and Linda. They visited Spain and France and then began travels to places in the United States. One of those destinations was a trip back to Durango, Colorado, which they had visited on their cross-country motorcycle trip and both had loved. Will, shared with us that they went back to tour the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings where they had gone back in the 1970's. He then explained that the ladders were much steeper, the trail along the cliffs was much narrower and the tunnel was longer, darker and more confining in the Balcony House dwellings then he remembered. Of course, he had us laughing about this description, but he did admit he was a bit nervous on parts of the hike.

You could see the love and joy that Will felt for his beautiful Caroline as he walked her down the aisle on her wedding day. He knew she had grown into an amazing young woman and was going to be happy sharing her life with Travis. Yes, another awesome celebration shared with family and friends, which is what is important to the Korber family members.

Will had recently purchased a sailboat that needed some refurbishing. He and Linda were working to get that boat back in the water so that they could again experience some voyages on the sea.

Linda shared many memories here, but most of all she shared that Will loved the laid back lifestyle of Florida and he loved his family. He worked hard to provide a good life for them and that he did. He was a good husband and father and he was always there for them when they needed him. She finished her memory with "I love and miss him so much."

When Will turned 60, we did a trip to celebrate his birthday. Vance, Nicole, Daniel, Erin, Tammie, Terrie, Michael, Tom, Jesse and I flew to Fort Lauderdale rented a van, picked up Will, Linda and Dad and drove to Key West for a weekend long celebration. What fun we had and the memories of that weekend are with me as I write this.

With tears in my eyes and an aching in my heart we should be celebrating Will's 67 ^th birthday right now instead of memorializing him. However, we can't change the fact that Will is no longer with us in the physical being, but how lucky we are to carry the memories made with him, that will keep his spirit alive. Raise a glass today and hug the ones you love. Cheers to you Will for peace to carry you on your new adventures.

Will was cremated and his ashes will be scattered at sea off the Florida Coast. There will also be a celebration of Will's life in New York. Both of these events will be determined at a later date.

Memories of  our big brother, Will growing up from Heidi, Tammie and Terrie:

Will was the oldest of the Korber kids, the peacemaker, a boy scout, the guy who always looked tough because he had a beard and rode a motorcycle, but wouldn't hurt a flea, a high school football player who took ballet classes at the suggestion of his coach to better improve his skill as a player, first in the family to get a college degree, the one who taught me how to drive in a VW Bug with no first gear, the one who married the most amazing women, Linda and then became the best ever, Dad to his sweet Caroline,  the sailor who loved the Hudson River and then added ocean sailing when he moved to the warm climate, a scuba diver, the thrifty one, (ha-ha, nice way to put it), the one who supported Caroline's passion for competitive horse back riding, the one who built them a home where they could live and house the horses, we jokingly nicknamed him the grumbler, but he always had a great story to tell and the best smile ever. He worked hard, loved his family and loved life. The list goes on and on, with so many memories, it would take pages and pages to share. I love you and I will miss you brother Will but you know you hold a special place in my heart! ~ Heidi

Will was the oldest and the guardian, when mom and dad were at

work.  Although he was always considered the quiet one, in comparison to Bob, he loved life.  Growing up in new York I remember him teaching me how to ski (at the age of 10), how to play the guitar, sharing hikes at Lake Mohonk and Lake Minnewaska, and enjoying many memorable parties at the his home with family and friends.  In Charleston, S.C. we went out to Fort Sumter (where the shot was heard around the world-that started the Civil War) and toured some of the local Plantations.  In Florida: he took me to an Equestrian show where he told me all about each event and how the scoring worked; we would visit the Turtle Refugee on Hutchinson Island, Kennedy Space Center, and Lake Okeechobee to see alligators.  He loved to talk about: politics, European history, sail boating, cars and motorcycles, horses, or any interesting story of resent events.  He was my big brother: the teddy bear, the grumbler, the guy who looked like: Kenny Rogers, Grizzly Adams, Santa Clause and Ernest Hemmingway…he is, my beloved brother, my friend, and I'm going to miss him.   ~ Tammie

When I think of Will, I think; big brother, oldest of five. The boss, the strong one, the gentle giant.  When I was young, I loved listening to him play the guitar and think to myself, I wish I could play like him.  Will, was mom's right hand man.  He made sure chores were done; he would drive us to activities and helped with homework.  He was a good role model; l know he had to work hard at his grades but he did it. He was a tough football player and wrestler and excelled in sports.  When Will and Linda moved to Florida I went along and for 6 weeks we lived in Key West.  I think it was here I realized our 7-year deference in age really didn't matter.  When I walked down the aisle to be married, it was Will who walked beside me; my big brother, my mentor, my hero.  When you left this Earth, you left an empty whole in my heart.  I miss you so much and dream of the day all five Korber kids can hug again.  ~ Terrie

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