Juergen Herbst, “Jay”, 81, of Sturgeon Bay, passed away on May 22, 2026, at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jay was born in Germany, to Erich and Else Herbst. He grew up in Chicago and attended Lane Technical High School. He apprenticed as a mold maker at R. O. Schultz and worked at Deluxe Die Mold. With a partner, he founded his own “tool shop” Standard Die Mold and later, Standard Plastics. As a young man Jay became an avid fisherman, spending many days on the lakes in Boulder Junction and in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. Jay took his family on annual “boatcations” on his boat the Refuge, visiting ports around Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. On these trips, he discovered Door County and Sturgeon Bay. Tired of concrete jungle marinas in Illinois and southern Wisconsin, in 1990 he moored the Refuge in Sawyer Harbor and then at the Stardust, now Snug Harbor. Many long weekends were spent fishin’ and funnin’ around the firepit with pier neighbors. When Jay moved to Sturgeon Bay in 1998 many of his lifelong dreams came true: living on the water, working on the “big boats” as an inside machinist at Bay Shipbuilding, earning his Captain’s license for charter fishing, and then earning his Master License for 100 Ton vessels. He thoroughly enjoyed his time as Captain of the Spirit of LaSalle and the Harbor Lady. He connected with the local Masonic Temple, serving as Master of the Lodge, District Deputy, Worthy Patron of Eastern Star, and held various offices in the Peninsula Shrine Club. Jay is survived by his loving wife Trudy, cherished sons and fishing buddies Erich of Sturgeon Bay and Allen (Ingrid) of Madison. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Carol, niece Dawn (Dana), nephew Chris (Suzie), grandniece Madeline and grandnephew Matthew. Jay is also survived by fishing, Masonic, and Peninsula and Beja Shrine Club friends. Jay was predeceased by his parents, his mother and father-in-law Tillie and Al, his brother-in-law Gus, and his Miniature Schnauzer buddies Jetty and Pepper. Please join us in remembering Jay at Bay View Lutheran Church, 340 W Maple St, Sturgeon Bay, on Saturday, June 13. Visitation is at 10:00 am, the Masonic Service is at 11:00 am, and then the Church Service, followed by a lunch reception at Waterfront Mary’s, 3662 N Duluth Ave, Sturgeon Bay. In lieu of flowers, contributions are appreciated to Jay’s favorite charities: Bay View Lutheran Church Roof Fund, Door County Parks Department Picnic Table Project, Door Tran, or Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children – Chicago. Crossing the Bar--Alfred Lord Tennyson Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea, But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home. Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark; For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crost the bar.