Jerome Daniel Tryba

POYNETTE  /  PORTAGE-- Jerome Daniel Tryba, age 52, passed away at his Poynette home, Saturday, March 12, 2016 surrounded by his loving family. He fought a courageous, sixteen month battle with Leiomyosarcoma.
Jerome was born on October 6, 1963 in Wausau, WI, to William and Alice (Modrzejewski) Tryba. He graduated from Newman High School in 1982. He continued his education and received a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1986.
Jerome became employed right after college as an engineer at Saint-Gobain (formerly Mox-Med), a medical device components manufacturer in Portage, WI.  In 1995, while living in Whitewater, he worked for two years as an engineer in Elkhorn, WI at another medical parts company.  In 1997, he came back to Mox-Med in Portage.  (Saint-Gobain purchased Mox-Med in 2001.)  Jerome held various engineering positions in the company, including extrusion engineer, manufacturing engineer, and applications engineer.  He continued to work there until becoming sick. 
On May 9, 1992, Jerome married Susan Hebel Kowald. She preceded him in death on July 18th, 2002.  On August 2, 2014, Jerome married Judy Reichert Helgeson.  
Besides his wife, Judy, and his parents, Jerome is survived by five step-children: Heidi (Matt) Henke, Menomonee Falls; Rachel Helgeson and Thomas Helgeson, Poynette; Kim (partner Nicki and daughter Jada) Hebel, La Crosse; Sunny (Dean) Darling, Waukesha; and two step-grandchildren Makenna and Janessa Darling. In addition, he is survived by four siblings:  Marlene (David) Zoromski, Hatley; Elaine (Donald) Haas, Kronenwetter; Kenneth (Joanie) Tryba, Wausau; and Cynthia (Kenneth) Milbeck, Rib Mountain; plus many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is also survived by his special aunt and uncle and godparents, Ernest and Mary Goytowski, West Allis.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Leo and Martha Modrzejewski and Felix and Mary Tryba, two nephews, Scott and Jason Zoromski, and a step niece, Victoria Ladwig.
Jerome was very talented and had many interests. His passion was his woodworking.  He could create anything out of wood and spent many hours in his workshop “The Wood Shed”. Jerome could also fix anything and would help anyone in need.  He also loved to spend time outdoors landscaping, gardening, hunting, camping and hiking.  He enjoyed playing pool and board games, especially the game Upwords.   Jerome loved his family and friends and could not spend enough time with them. Jerome’s faith was very important to him. He was very active in his church (Poynette Inch United Methodist Church) and held several council positions. He was also involved with the Jaycees in Portage for a time. Jerome touched many lives and had many friends.  Jerome will be greatly missed and remembered.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 19th, 2016, at Portage United Methodist Church, 1804 New Pinery Road, Portage, WI, with the Rev. Diane Vielhuber officiating.  A visitation will be held at the church from 11:30 a.m. until the time of service.  Relatives and friends may also call from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 18th, 2016, at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home, 430 W. Wisconsin Street, Portage, WI.
The family would like to extend a deep appreciation to the staff at Agrace Hospice for their loving care during Jerome’s final days.  In lieu of flowers, per Jerome’s wishes, please contribute to Agrace Hospice Care of Wisconsin or another Hospice Organization.