James "Jim" Jobe

James "Jim" M. Jobe, 74, of Sarasota, FL, formerly of Oblong and Robinson, IL, passed away at 12:40 a.m. on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at Morningside House of Sarasota. Born on August 8, 1951, in Olney, IL, Jim was the son of Lawrence & Helen (Williams) Jobe. From an early age, his world was shaped by fairways and greens. He grew up on the golf course, as his father played an instrumental role in building Oak Glen Golf Course. It was there that Jim learned more than how to swing a club. He learned patience, discipline, and the quiet satisfaction of doing something well. Those lessons stayed with him for life.

Jim attended Oblong High School, where he played both golf and football before graduating in 1969. He went on to Olney Central College, finishing in 1971, and soon after began a career at Briggs Manufacturing. Starting out as a caster, Jim worked his way into management and remained with Briggs for 30 years. After its closure, he continued working as a warehouse manager for Agracel Inc. in Robinson until his retirement in 2014. Work was something Jim took seriously, not because he chased titles, but because he believed in doing things right.

Outside of work, Jim returned to what had always felt like home. Golf was not just a hobby. It was a lifelong companion. He was a devoted member of Oak Glen Golf Course, serving on the board of directors for many years and helping build the back nine. He also invested himself in his community, serving on the Oblong Township Board and supporting education through the Oblong Academic Foundation. His faith anchored him as well, and he was a longtime member of the Oblong Central United Methodist Church. Jim was also a member of the Sons of the American Legion Post #219 in Oblong and the Robinson Elks Lodge.

Jim loved the outdoors and shared many early mornings quail hunting with friends Dennis Carder and Mark Kintner. When he was not outside, chances were good that the Chicago Cubs were on the television. He followed them faithfully, watching countless games at home and making several trips to Wrigley Field over the years, something he never took for granted, not just for the view of the field, but for the view it gave him of life beside the people he loved.

After all, family was central to Jim's life. He played a heavy hand in raising his twin sons, Chris and Cory, and they never doubted who was in charge. If they got in trouble at school, they got into twice as much trouble at home. Jim coached their baseball teams during the summers and their middle school years, but he taught them so much more than the fundamentals of baseball. Jim believed a boy ought to grow into a man who could handle what was in front of him, whether that meant owning his choices, putting in the work, or learning how to do things for himself. Jim lived that belief. He built his boys a treehouse on stilts, and years later, when he became a grandfather, he built a playhouse for his granddaughter, Kyndal, complete with a custom screen door, front porch, shutters, and every thoughtful detail.

Jim also showed devotion to his family through quiet faithfulness. He helped care for his brother Jack, who lived at the CILA home in Oblong. After their father passed away, Jim continued the tradition of writing Jack a letter every week, something their dad had done for years. He visited often, showing love not through grand gestures, but through steady presence.

Jim was at his most present when he was with his wife, Cheryl. With her, life had a steadier pace, one marked by shared miles and shared memories. He especially loved riding their Goldwing together, traveling with their motorcycle club as far as the Ozarks, taking in the kind of views you only get when you are willing to take the long way. They spent plenty of time on the golf course as well. Cheryl did not golf much at first, but after they were married, she took it up seriously, and in time, she became good enough to have the edge on him! After that, they did not golf together quite as often, but if nothing else, it was proof of the kind of determination Jim respected, even when it meant he was no longer the one setting the standard.

Jim was a man who told you exactly how it was. He did not beat around the bush. He was honest, sometimes to a fault, and that integrity shaped how he lived and how people trusted him. He was loyal, dependable, and hard-working. He gave the best of himself to his family, his work, and his community, and his corner of the world is better because he lived in it.

Jim married his high school sweetheart, Cheryl D. Dart, on November 26, 1971, and she survives. Also surviving are his twin sons, Chris (Kara) Jobe of Robinson, IL, and Cory Jobe (John Sinouansai) of Richmond Heights, MO; his granddaughter Kyndal (Conner) Gorman of Evansville, IN; his step-grandson Mack (Leah) Waggoner of Greenup, IL; his step-great-grandchildren, Adalyn and Rhett Waggoner of Greenup, IL; his sister Janet Schilowsky of Robinson, IL; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Jack Jobe.

A time of visitation will be held from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson. Funeral services will immediately follow at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Phil Boyd officiating. Memorials may be made to the NOW Program for Robinson Schools or the Parkinson Place Center of Sarasota, with envelopes available at the funeral home.