Jayden D. Polinsky

Jayden David Polinsky, age 18, of Corryton, Tennessee (formerly of Watertown, Wisconsin), peacefully entered the gates of Heaven on October 6, 2025, wrapped in the arms of Jesus after a 13-month courageous battle with DMG, an aggressive brain cancer.
Jayden was born on May 23, 2007, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, to Eric and Jennifer (Kaul) Polinsky. He was the cherished brother of Emmaline, McKayla, and Olivia; the beloved grandson of Michael Polinsky and David and Denise (Babcock) Kaul; and the adored great-grandson of Donny and Nancy (Caudill) Zache. JD is also survived by many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, friends, and his faithful dog Lucy and cat Toby, who comforted him until the very end. He was preceded in death by his grandmothers Kristi (Ruenger) Braunschweig and Karen (Hammes) Polinsky, along with several great-grandparents.
Jayden had a deep admiration for God's beautiful Earth - from the bright city lights of Chicago, to the white sands and turquoise waters of Florida, the morning fog over the Smoky Mountains, and the towering Redwoods of California. He dreamt of exploring every state and venturing around the world to places like Japan, Switzerland, and Iceland.
A passionate and incredibly talented gamer, Jayden took great pride in excelling at every game he played. If he set a goal-whether mastering a game or building the perfect PC-he could easily surpass it. He treasured late nights gaming with his dad, family get-togethers with all his loved ones, taking walks with his mom, and simply being a kid.
Jayden met many people throughout his journey and had a rare gift of bringing others together. He made everyone feel safe, seen, and valued just by being himself. He made every situation lighter.To know Jayden was to witness the best of what God made people to be: gentle, joyful, forgiving, and kind. His selflessness, his strength, his quick wit sense of humor, and his steadfast faith will forever inspire all who were blessed to know him. Though his time here was far too short, the impact he made will live on in countless hearts.
The family extends their deepest gratitude to the many foundations and individuals who supported Jayden and his family throughout his cancer journey. A special thank you to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis and Smoky Mountain Hospice in Knoxville, whose compassion and dedication brought comfort and care during the most difficult times.
A visitation will take place on Saturday, October 25th, beginning at 1:00 PM at Hafemeister Funeral Home in Watertown, WI. A service will follow at 3:00 PM to celebrate the joy Jayden brought into our lives.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been created in Jayden's honor to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital:
https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=9022006&fr_id=154020&pg=personal
Forever our hero, our heart, and our greatest blessing.