Jay Thor Haraldson, 16
Published 11:16 am Monday, June 20, 2011
Jay Thor Haraldson, 16, passed away unexpectedly while working at Sun Prairie High School on Thursday, June 16, 2011.
Jay Haroldson
He was born on May 5, 1995, in Madison and was the son of Joel and Sharon (Golombowski) Haraldson. Jay, who graduated from eighth grade at Sacred Hearts in Sun Prairie, would have been a sophomore at Sun Prairie High School, where he played trumpet in the band, and was on the honor roll. He was on the school soccer and varsity swim team and on the Piranha Swim Team and Madison FC Soccer Club. He was also a PADI certified scuba diver. Jay twice survived cancer, at age 5 and 11. During months of treatments, he showed courage and strength and touched the hearts of the many nurses and doctors who treated him. As a survivor he provided hope and inspiration for others. He was an honorary guest for the 2007 grand opening of the American Family Children’s Hospital. In 2008, he was selected as an Emcee for Kids with Courage Reunion, one of six special young people selected. He loved attending One Step at a Time Summer Camp, where he once swam across Lake Geneva and back!
He enjoyed family vacations, teasing his siblings and most of all, spending time with friends and family whom he loved so very much. He has many friends who loved him for his fun personality, caring ways and ability to make people laugh.
He is survived by his parents; sister, Hannah and brother, Jack; grandparents, Paul and Carole Haraldson of Brodhead, Stephan and Colette Golombowski of Adams; aunts and uncles, Eric and Kelly Haraldson of Middleton, Wis., Paula Haraldson and Paul Schersten of Minneapolis, Cathy and Kurt Hurst of Madison, Maureen and Ed Noterman of Adams, Laura and Mark Schaefer of Taopi, Minn., Valerie and Al Rieke of Rochester, Minn., Sue Finbraaten of Adams, Steve and Kara Golombowski of Adams, Dan and Sandra Golombowski of Onamia, Minn., David Golombowski of Adams and many cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held June 20, at St Albert the Great Catholic Church in Sun Prairie. Burial will be at Sacred Hearts Cemetery. The family suggests in lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established in Jay’s name.