Adventurous, loving, funny, unforgettable son
Jay had determination to live kindly, joyfully, and fully. He was the only one who looked forward to the brutal Wisconsin winters, thinking of snowmobiling and outdoor adventures instead of the cold and snow. When he saw someone stopped at the side of the road, or his customers struggling, he never questioned them. He simply extended his help.
Jay was a lifelong mechanic, taught by his father and driven by curiosity. “He loved motors, engines, anything fast, anything loud, and anything he could take apart and rebuild better,” his sister, Stephanie, said. “The sound of his truck coming from a mile away still lives in everyone’s memory.”
Jay wanted to be just like his father and continue on with the auto shop that they shared together. His mechanical expertise helped build his client base, but it was genuine kindness and generosity that kept them around. “Customers trusted him not only because of his skill, but because he cared about the people he served,” Stephanie shared. “His combination of mechanical brilliance, kindness, and a vibrant sense of adventure made him truly one-of-a-kind.”
As a child, he built ramps in the backyard with scrap wood and tore around on minibikes and go-karts; he continued his interest as he grew up, enjoying four-wheeling, snowmobiling, and filming the adventures on his GoPro. But he also reveled in the quieter moments: talking to his father on the porch, sharing a meal with his mother, or playing with his nephew. He was proud to be a son, a brother, a best friend, and an uncle. One day, he hoped to be a husband and father.
In 2011, Jay’s girlfriend Jessica passed away because of a brain aneurysm. The loss affected him deeply. Soon after, Jay began experiencing addiction. Though he persisted in reaching for the future he had dreamed of, the disease changed him.
“Addiction caused instability and emotional pain he should never have had to face,” Stephanie said. “It pulled him into unsafe environments and created a persistent, specific terror that something terrible would happen—and then it did.”
Jay passed away just a few days before his nephew’s third birthday party. He had planned to give him a pretend Playdough ice-cream machine. His family held his funeral that day instead.
“My family struggles with disbelief, depression, isolation, and the crushing weight of losing him,” Stephanie shared. “We live in a world permanently altered. We don’t want anyone else to experience it, so we have also turned grief into action. Through advocacy, awareness, and the installation of Overdose Aid Boxes in his memory, his impact continues. Jay deserved support, compassion, and safety. Through this work, other people will receive what he did not.” He is forever remembered and loved more than words could ever say.
Jay’s sister, Stephanie Weinfurter, provided the information for this narrative.
June 27, 1988-November 28, 2023-Age 35
Portrait Artist: Clayton Conner
Narrative Writer: Angela Day
