Lionel R. Korb

Lionel Robert Korb, loving husband, father, grandpa, and great-grandpa, died on Friday, December 15, 2023. After being a kid running around the streets of Allen Park, Mich., delivering newspapers (he was the only paperboy in Allen Park), babysitting for his little sister when his mom worked as a “Rosie the Riverter” at the bombers plant, and playing for the high school basketball team, he headed to Michigan State where he received a degree in accounting. He often gave credit to his “girlfriend,” later his wife, Mary Woodman, for making it through college because she would sit with him at the library and knit while he studied. After graduating they moved to Detroit for a CPA job at Ernst and Ernst. Then it was a move to downriver - Wyandotte and Grosse Ile, where he spent the majority of his career working at National Bank of Wyandotte-Taylor. During that time they made a lot of friends and had a lot of good times. Bowling on Friday nights, golf and dancing at Grosse Ile Golf and Country Club, or entertaining at a Tigers or Red Wings game. They also joined a travel club, the Nomads, that owned their own plane. Through the Nomads they were able to travel around the world! While at the bank he was also very active with the Kiwanis club where he met many friends and was president for a term. In 1984 they bought a house in Summerfield, Fla., so that they could play golf and enjoy warm weather year-round. After Mary died Lionel reunited with a friend of 47 years, Helen Wielfaert, who he married in 2010. Helen’s family welcomed him into their family with open arms. In 2020 they decided to sell the Florida house and move to the farm in Britton permanently.

Lionel is survived by his wife Helen; sister Carolyn; daughters Debbie, Lisa and Cheri; son, Bill; grandchildren Courtney, Stephanie, Zach, Natalie, Ali, Jessica, Rachel, Alex, and Brie; and his great-granchildren Hudson, Avery, Finley, Kai, Hayes, Colton, Payton, Noland, Quinn, Phoebe, and Joey. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary, and his parents, George and Dorthea Korb. His family brought him great joy and he will be missed by all!

A Celebration of Lionel’s life will be held in Ann Arbor at the end of July 2024.