John Jay Balchunas

Jay Balchunas Scholarship Fund

Jay Balchunas was a longtime member (16 years!) of the New Berlin Fire Department both when it was all volunteer and then when it became paid-on-call. He in fact started as an explorer before being sworn in as a department member. At the time of Jay's death, he was assigned as a Lieutenant at Station One, on Ladder 1.

In addition to working for the fire department, Jay was a Milwaukee Police Officer for eight years before becoming a Wisconsin Department of Justice Special Agent in 1999 assigned to the Division of Criminal Investigation. On October 29, 2004, Jay was shot in the abdomen during a robbery attempt in Milwaukee, WI. He died on November 5, 2004 from his injuries. He was 34 years old.

Hi family has established two scholarship funds in his name – one at WCTC College for firefighting and law enforcement students and one at Marquette University (where Jay graduated with a criminal justice degree) for the criminal justice program. Donations can be made directly to the schools as follows:

Marquette University WCTC Foundation, Inc

Jay Balchunas Memorial Jay Balchunas Memorial

Scholarship Fund Scholarship Fund

PO Box 1881 800 Main St

Milwaukee, WI 53201 Pewaukee, WI 53072

We have also created and are selling large and small stickers in Jay’s honor. The large stickers (4X4") are $5 and the small ones (2X2") are $3. The stickers can be purchased through Shelley Wisniewski (414-614-6099). Any requests with checks payable either to the Journey for Jay or Shelley Wisniewski can be mailed to Shelley Wisniewski at 4040 South Quimby Drive, New Berlin, WI, 53151. All funds raised will be directed to the Scholarship Funds.

* Click Here * For a few pictures from the 2007 Journey for Jay, Harley ride on June 30th.

* Click Here * For a few pictures from the 2008 Journey for Jay, Harley ride on June 28th.