David Thomas Barylak

David Thomas Barylak passed into the arms of Jesus on May 16, 2024. He was a kind and humble soul,

whose presence spoke volumes when he was with anyone - even people he didn’t know.

As a child, he was silly, full of love, and content—a quiet guy who often kept to himself. He cherished

family trips to Colorado to visit his aunt and uncle and enjoyed relaxing with friends and family. He

never sought the spotlight, instead finding joy in doing his own thing, whether it was snowboarding

while others skied or sitting in the shade at the pool while others soaked up the sun.

In high school, David’s independence blossomed as he took a job at Adventure Rock, where he found an

extended family after his siblings began moving out. He loved weekend trips across the country,

enjoying the outdoors and simple moments around the campfire. During this time, his father, Mike

Barylak, battled cancer, and the support of his climbing family and outdoor adventures became a

necessity for David. When his father passed away, David was devastated, losing his best friend,

advocate, and cheerleader.

Determined to stay true to himself, David pursued his love for the outdoors while working toward his

degree. He moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, where he attended Colorado State University and took a job

at The Wall, setting climbing routes, performing safety tests, and helping with guest management. He

always enjoyed being active in the outdoors whether it was running, biking, rock climbing or hiking the

Colorado 14ers like Longs Peak (twice). Despite his efforts, David grappled internally with his path in

life.

He found solace in a local coffee shop (The Cart) that became his new support group. Like the show “Cheers,”

everyone knew his name, and he knew theirs. This community introduced him to new outdoor activities,

bringing him joy and contentment – cycling, ultra trail running, climbing, and snowboarding.

David continued to battle his inner struggles, pausing his schooling to take a job at Bio Bubble, where he

quickly rose to management and traveled globally. He gave his all to his job but found little left for

himself or others. To heal, he prioritized his well-being, sought counseling, and even returned to school,

graduating successfully. In Fall of 2022 he moved back to Wisconsin to get more support from his

family.

He will always be remembered as a soft-spoken, kind young man who loved the outdoors and his family

dearly. May David rest in peace, knowing that he was deeply loved by all who knew him.

David is survived by his mother Heidi (John), sister Michelle (Joe), brother Adam (Tina), nephews

Matthew, Jeffrey, Simon, Elliott, Michael, and niece Rose. Preceded in death by his father, Michael

Barylak.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 25th at 9am at Pagenkopf Funeral Home, 2228 N Silver Maple

Ln, Oconomowoc, WI 53066. Service to follow at 11am and a lunch provided at 11:30am. Immediately following the luncheon, David will be laid to rest at Wisconsin Memorial Park at 2:30 PM.

Flowers, cards, and memorial contributions to Rogers Foundation or Children's Wisconsin Foundation are all

welcome.

Rogers Foundation: https://rogersbhfoundation.org/give/

Children's Wisconsin Foundation: PO Box 1997, Suite 220, Milwaukee, WI 53201 (memo: In Memory of

David Barylak)