James “Jim” Michael Klingbail
July 4, 1950 – March 27, 2019
Jim Klingbail lived his life with kindness, earnestness, strength, intelligence and love. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jim achieved minor legend status for his epic Super Bowl parties, particularly when the Green Bay Packers were playing. He was described by friends as, “A very kind and honest gentleman; the absolute best neighbor you’ve ever had.”
Jim was a dedicated member of the Church of the Holy Family in Virginia Beach, VA, where he enjoyed his role as Eucharistic Minister for many years. He was an avid runner who completed many Philadelphia Distance Runs and Virginia Beach Shamrock Marathons. Before and after he became ill, Jim was a fighter with a no-nonsense approach to life. Yet he lived to love, always. Along with dear family and friends, Jim’s many loves included his daughter, Jaimie Alexis Klingbail, his step-daughter, Charity Michelle Carpenter Bess, and his step-son, Brett Joseph Carpenter. Jim was a fabulous entertainer and loved to cook everything from spaghetti and meatballs, sausage with roasted peppers and onions, to crab cakes, ribs, and egg-in-a-cup (washed down with a cold Spaten or a little brandy). And there were of course the daily happy hours with beloved neighbors gathered on Jim’s dream deck, where friendships thrived and deepened over cocktails and music like Hall and Oates, George Jones, and Jimmy Buffet. Jim also loved and appreciated the simple stuff like mowing the lawn, bike rides to the Lesner Bridge, and Elvis. And he loved taking walks around the circle in Thoroughgood, his forever home and the setting for many of the happiest moments of Jim’s life.
In 1980, Jim earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing Management from La Salle University. He adored his time in Philly thanks to great friends and the community basketball team. Eventually his job brought him to Johnson City, Tennessee, where he met Kimberly Rowe, his future wife with whom he would share a family, including her two children and their daughter Jaimie Alexis, born February 1988. Soon after, his employer relocated to Virginia Beach, Virginia, where Jim bought a home and stayed. He decided to start his own business and in 2002 became the President/Owner of Archadeck of Virginia Beach; a residential deck and porch design/build company.
Jim was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 4, 1950. Loved ones who passed before him include his parents, Mary Elizabeth and Gene, and his brother, Paul. He is survived by his three children and his sisters Jeanne Holmes and Kathy Petrowsky, with whom he had a very close relationship. A Private Celebration of Life will be held in May. Please contact jimklingbailmemorial@gmail.com for additional information.
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