Began his journey home Wednesday, March 28, 2012, age 56. Beloved husband of Susan (nee Soltis). Dear brother of Christopher and the late Cleveland. Also loved by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.Visitation at the Funeral Home Sunday, April 1, 2:00"4:00 PM. Visitation at ST. MARCUS LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2215 North Palmer Street, Monday, April 2, 10:00"11:00 AM. Funeral Service 11:00 AM. Burial Graceland Cemetery."Until we meet again"I was truly blessed to be with Travis for more than half of my life. His love and support was unconditional. We met at Vic Tanny, now known as Bally's, where Travis taught aerobics classes. He loved fitness and did those classes for more than 20 years. He had a large following of members. I had no idea at that time he did that, because I was always in the weight room. We had so very much in common. There was never Travis without Sue, or Sue without Travis. We were able to conquer so much together and times weren't always easy, even though we tried to make it seem like it was. With our relationship, we had to stretch boundaries for some people. Travis was so patient and persistent to make his place within my family and he certainly did it. Travis worked many years in the kitchen at a nursing home before moving on to work at a couple of different restaurants. He eventually found something that was more his calling, security. For several years, Travis worked three jobs at once, which included aerobics, security and a FedEx warehouse. In 2004, Travis suffered kidney failure due to an autoimmune disease known as Wegner's Granulamotosis. Unfortunately, during the time Travis was trying to recover, he lost his job and wasn't able to work full time again. After two years of dialysis, I was able to give him the gift of life. Our family liked to tease him about his "girl kidney" and how it was now all chick flicks, shoe shopping and peeing sitting down. I liked to remind him from time to time that it was a quality part from a quality supplier. After the transplant, Travis needed an outlet. He was such a social person and needed to be out meeting people and working. He was able to start working for the Waukesha County courthouse as a security screener. He loved everything about this position. He was always meeting new people and enjoyed his time with his co-workers. I'm not so sure that they always enjoyed his singing, but he sure did. January 2010 started with his defibrillator malfunctioning and shocking him twelve times. It was replaced, but unfortunately it became infected. Travis spent most of the year battling sepsis and completing his own I.V. antibiotics before the defibrillator was finally removed in late October. The end of November, Travis' heart stopped and he was brought back with a Life Vest. The Life Vest was prescribed for Travis to wear while he was waiting for a new defibrillator to be implanted.Travis' heart and kidney had an extremely slow decline throughout 2011 bringing us to an evaluation for a transplant for both the heart and kidney. It was decided that an LVAD heart pump would be implanted to help Travis' heart while waiting for the transplant. The outstanding medical team at St. Luke's Hospital was ready and Travis' spirit was prepared, but unfortunately, his body wasn"t. He just couldn't recover and we let him go on his journey home. Travis, our family and friends hearts still break at such an insurmountable loss. As we struggle to heal, we will never forget your unconditional love, your laugh, your smile and your spirit. These things will remain with us forever.
