Mitchell R. Corbin, 82, left his earthly home surrounded by family on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, to be reunited with family and friends in their eternal kingdom, due to complications from Parkinson’s and will be remembered as “a man of the land”.
Born April 28, 1943, in Morris, Illinois, to Odis Odell and Fredia Welker Corbin, his formative years were spent on farms in Grundy County, IL and near Lake Geneva, WI, where he learned early the value of hard work and stewardship of the land. At just 12 years old, that work paid off when his 985-pound steer, “Tommy”, was named 1955 Grand Champion at the Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn, WI, an early sign of the lifelong bond Mitch would have with agriculture.
After his family moved back to Grundy County in 1956, Mitch graduated from Coal City High School in 1961. Encouraged by his ag teacher and FFA advisor to pursue agriculture “where they wrote the book,” Mitch set off for the University of Illinois. Using profits from farming alongside his father and doing extensive custom work, he earned a degree in agricultural economics in 1965, followed by a master’s degree in agronomy from Southern Illinois University in 1966. Throughout high school and college, he worked tirelessly – custom farming and working in agricultural barns – to cover the cost of his education.
Following graduation Mitch spent three years traveling throughout the Midwest selling agricultural products to dealers and farmers. But the land kept calling him home. In 1970 he moved his family back to Grundy County to start farming with his brother and eventually on his own. In the early 1980’s he purchased a dairy farm in Green County, Wisconsin. When the economy turned against him, Mitch met the challenge with characteristic optimism, remaining in Green County and continuing his work in agriculture.
In 1990 when the land called once more – this time to eastern North Carolina – where he raised corn, soybeans, and winter wheat double-cropping nearly 1,500 acres until his retirement in 2017. He cherished being his own boss and love the solitude the tractor or combine, and was often out before sunrise, driving his pickup from filed to field checking the crops for pests, studying the sky, while listening to the latest crop reports with all the faith and fatalism every farmer understands.
After he “officially” retired – though farmers never truly do – Mitch was drawn back to the land to help his son-in-law harvest corn and beans in Illinois. His wife lovingly refereed to this as his “annual tractor/combine fix,” a testament to his enduring love for the land and the rhythmic sounds of the machines that shaped his life.
The land not only became a way to make a good living for himself and his family, but it also opened the world to him. He was one of the lucky ones to visit all 50 states – many of them multiple times – along with all six territories, and all 63 national parks along with many other sites under the National Park Service system. He took great joy in planning these adventures with his wife, Larna, packing as much wonder into each trip as possible.
As the grandkids grew older – beginning around age 10 – Mitch and Larna often took 2 – and sometimes 3 – at a time on trips to national parks, historical sites, and lesser-known points-of-interest. These journeys allowed him to share his love of the land while building lasting bonds with them away from their parents and friends; it was truly a special time. He also enjoyed farm tours to France, Brazil, Argentina, Ireland, Scotland, and England where he connected with farmers around the world and learned about agricultural practices across cultures.
Mitch will be deeply missed by his wife, Larna, of 31 years, his daughters, Angela (Randy) Tuthill of Wyoming, Illinois, and Karla (John) Carroll of Austin, MN, and his son, Daniel (Anna) Corbin of Columbia, NC. He leaves behind eight cherished grandsons – Trace (wife Julia) and Cade (fiancé Kendahl) Tuthill; Noah (wife Grace), Michael, and Owen Carroll; Gage, Odis, and Clay Corbin – and one great-grandson Nehemiah Tuthill. He is also survived by his brother, Richard Corbin of Coal City, Il; his sister, Ruth Ann Swan of Marietta, GA; two nieces: Wyvone and Wyvette Corbin, Forney, TX; nephew Michael Hawthorn and his four children, Chicago, IL; aunt, Trula Ness; and uncle, Rev. Jimmie Corbin and his wife, Elwanda; many cousins; his step-children: Kelly (Bill) Peterson of Monticello, WI and Morgan Blum of Minneapolis, MN; and his step-granddaughter, Marissa Peterson, of Fitchburg, WI.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a nephew, Richard Corbin, Jr.; sister-in-law, Joyce Corbin; many aunts, uncles, and cousins; step-granddaughter, Madeleine Peterson; and Velma Doty, the mother of his children.
Mitch was a member of the Evansville, WI Masonic Dodge #35, Robert Macoy Commandery #3, Madison, WI, and Scottish Rites, Bloomington, IL Valley Chapter.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026 from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at Shriner Hager Gohlke Funeral Home, Monroe, WI. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM starting with Masonic Rites. Lunch and a time for visiting with the family will follow immediately after the service at Koning Maple Lane Event Center in Monroe. Private burial services will be held at a later date in Greenwood Cemetery, Monroe.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to SSM Monroe Hospice Home, Shriners Hospitals for Children, or the National Park Foundation.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the compassionate staff at SSM Monroe Hospice Home for their exceptional care, kindness, and support. We are deeply grateful for the comfort and dignity they provided through both in-home care and hospice home care during Mitch’s final days. Your presence, patience and genuine compassion meant more to our family than words can express.
