Jay M. Thurin, 40, of rural Kimball County, died at his home on Friday, April 4, 2025. Cremation has been held and Memorial Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, April 14, 2025 at the Pine Bluffs High School Gym in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming with Randy Bohac officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date. Friends may visit www.cantrellfh.com to view his Tribute Wall and share condolences and stories with the family. Memorials may be given in his memory to the Jay Thurin Memorial Fund, memorials can be dropped off at FirsTier Bank in Kimball. The services for Jay have been entrusted to the Cantrell Funeral Home.
Jay Matthew Thurin born March 8th, 1985 (which was two weeks late and anyone who knew Jay knew that he always ran on his time), has left us on Earth April 4, 2025. Jay had many passions, but one of the biggest ones was being the funny man and making people laugh. He has always had a passion for mentoring young kids. Every kid who met Jay, loved him, most of the time he was the kid himself. He has coached baseball, softball, football, and wrestling. Jay was one that would do anything for anyone who asked. He was a fix himself person, no matter what it was he could rig anything together and had so many inventions. It was amazing how many times Jay could turn something out of nothing.
Jay is a Marine as well, he wanted to follow his grandfather’s footsteps and joined the Marines as soon as the Twin Towers were hit. He served in Iraq only one tour, but it changed him for life and was not able to complete his second tour. He served in Fallujah, Iraq from 2005-2006. Jay met many brothers during his time with the Marines. His brothers have also loved Jay’s family as their own.
Jay eloped with Ashley N. Knaub on July 27, 2006, later they had a church ceremony with friends and family. Jay and Ashley have two children, MaKenna and Jax. Both of their kids participate in many activities. Jay and Jax were best buddies always traveling to wrestling, coaching wrestling, and working on the family farm. Kenna was always Jay’s princess; he never made her work too hard and would always buy her whatever she wanted. Jay loved his family deeply and always wanted the best for them.
Jay made his home in Kimball, Nebraska where he could farm and ranch. It was always his dream to farm the land his grandfather had and be able to pass down to his own kids. Jay always thought about others and wanted to make sure everyone around him was taken care of.
Jay has numerous family members, youth sports athletes, and his Marine Brothers. He is survived by his wife Ashley, daughter MaKenna, son Jax, parents Matthew and Carla, sisters Katie (John) Medina, Chelsie (Jordan) Autrey, Vanessa (Caleb) DeWitt, Kayla, Shelby, brothers Preston, J.C., Kyle, his grandmother Wanda Madden. His in laws Rick and Janice Henderson, Rebekah (Tony) Steele, Hannah (Dillon) Snyder, Ruth (Casey) Goertzen, Patrick (Brandie) Schnell, Arich Knaub and Sara (Keith) Erlenbusch. He is also survived by his beloved Uncle Michael, and several aunts and uncles. All his nephews, nieces, who are all spoiled rotten by him. Multiple cousins and foster siblings are also survived by Jay. He is joining his Grandpa Lawerence Haug, Grandpa Leland Thurin, Grandma Barb Thurin, Baby Thurin, Reagan Marie, and multiple cousins.
The family requests that you dress casual, Jay was not a fancy guy. People are also welcome to wear anything that Jay made them (we don’t care if it was appropriate) or Husker.
