But Frank Corbett did do a lot else. And he did it well. From promising tennis player and premiership-winning footballer, to successful accountant and beloved family man. But his trademark was fun, and lots of it.

Sporting clubs, school communities, the business community, a massive circle of friends and - above all else - a close-knit family is mourning the Wagga man's passing, following his sudden and unexpected death last week.

"All the messages of support and people saying just how much they'll miss him and what a fun-loving guy he was, it's been amazing," Frank's brother, James Corbett, said.

"He always had that cheeky smile on his face and he could make people laugh. We've had messages from all over the place.

"It's amazing how much reach he had, how many people he touched or knew him."

More than anything, Frank was a family man.

Married to his best mate, Renee, he was a loving father of three. Daughter Annie and sons Freddy and Clancy idolised him.

"He was a sensational dad and husband, and son-in-law," James Corbett said.

"He was an awesome brother. There was never anything you couldn't talk to him about.

"And he just loved life. He was always great with kids."

The parties Frank threw for his children were legendary. So were the costumes he wore to his own.

"He organised every party and he was the life of every party," father-in-law Bob Beasley said.

The parties came and went but the fun never stopped. Frank's mad-cap ideas, adventures and misadventures were as well known as his weekend dress code in the middle of a Wagga winter: shorts and t-shirt.

At work, he dressed for business. A partner at ASB and Associates in Wagga, Mr Corbett was a former chairman of the Riverina Business Enterprise Centre and remained heavily involved.

The son of Norman and Margaret Corbett, Frank was one of eight children. He grew up in Coolamon and then Junee Reefs, and did all his schooling in Temora.

"He was a good junior tennis player. He won all the junior tennis comps in Temora and he played in all the inter-town teams as a junior and senior," James Corbett recalled.

If tennis was his early love, football became Frank's enduring passion, particularly the Marrar Bombers where Frank played in their famous premierships of 1995 and 1996.

His player profile in 1995 described him well: "Franky. Tough rover who loves the hard stuff. Cross between a pit bull terrier and a camel."

Former teammate Paul Jenkins said Frank left a big impression at Marrar, on and off the field.

"He was a real tough nut footballer. Pound for pound he was probably one of the toughest blokes going around. He had tagging roles on best players for opposition sides and he was very rarely beaten," Mr Jenkins said.

"He was massive in the club. He was a quiet guy, he just sat back and was happy in his own little spot. But everyone would gravitate towards him because he was just such a lovable sort of bloke.

"He was one of the most easy-going guys you'd ever come across. Everyone had time for Frank and had respect for Frank.

"He would do anything for anyone and he didn't expect anything in return."

While studying accountancy at Charles Sturt University, Mr Corbett played for Rivcoll for two years, winning the club's best-and-fairest in 1993, before going home to the Bombers the following season.

He is being remembered, and will be sorely missed, at Eastlakes-MCU junior football club where he was a fixture on Sundays, usually as team manager, assistant coach or goal umpire at his son's games.

The clubs will form a guard of honour at Mr Corbett's funeral, which takes place at 10am on Friday, December 27 at St Michael's Cathedral in Wagga.

For all his achievements and legendary sense of humour, brother John Corbett said Frank's greatest gift was his love for people. It wasn't just that he made them laugh. He made them matter.

"Whether you were in the gutter or the boss of Westpac, it wouldn't matter to Frank. He talked to everyone and he treated everyone the same," John said.