Jay Alan Van Ryen, 70, of Tomahawk, passed away Friday, June 27, 2025 at his home surrounded by family under the care of Interim Hospice. Jay was born June 1, 1955 in Tomahawk, the son of Jacob and Gertrude (Loka) Van Ryen.
Jay grew up in the Harrison Hills area and attended primary school there. He was a 1973 graduate of Tomahawk High School and went on to obtain his associates degree in small engine repair from NTC. He was employed at Marathon County Parks Department in Wausau after college where he worked maintaining the parks in the summer and driving the Zamboni at the ice rinks in the winter. In 1976, while working in Wausau, he met the love of his life Kathy and they were married in 1978. They later moved to Tomahawk where Jay was employed for 33 years with PCA until his retirement in 2013.
Jay was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting, fishing and spending time on his John Deere tractor. He loved working in his workshop and he enjoyed helping anyone who stopped by. Jay was a very kind hearted man who was always willing to pitch in and give a hand. He loved his family and was especially proud of his six grandsons. He greatly enjoyed going to their baseball games, giving them rides on the tractor, or helping them with little projects in “Papa’s Workshop” which was Jay’s second home.
Surviving are his wife of 47 years, Kathleen (Cordova) Van Ryen; daughter, Elizabeth (Jeffrey) Burdick, Antigo; son, Matthew (Hanna) Van Ryen, Tomahawk; six grandchildren, Myles, Ian, Connor, Wyatt, Cale, Cole; sisters, Phyllis (Tom) Weizenicker, Tomahawk; Carol Johnson, Tomahawk; Mary Lou (Paul) Nelson, New London; Jean (Mike) Hanson, Tomahawk; Susie (Terry) Petersen, Rio, Wis.; Karen (Kevin) Schiltz, Tomahawk; brothers, Jim (Marie) Van Ryen, New Hampshire; Jeff (Marianne) Van Ryen, North Carolina. He is further survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.
Jay was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Marsha; brother-in-law, Dan Johnson; and great niece, Amanda Hilgendorf.
Visitation was held on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at Krueger-Nimsgern Funeral Home, Tomahawk from 4 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. with vigil at 6:45 p.m. and again from 10 a.m. to time of Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Tomahawk with Fr. Aloysius Royan Anthony and Deacon Dan Towle officiating.
Online condolences for the family may be directed to www.nimsgernfuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in memory of Jay to St Mary’s Catholic School in Tomahawk or All Saints Catholic School in Antigo where Jay’s grandsons attend school.
