Stephan James Clairday

Stephan James Clairday, age 53, of Elkhart, went to be with the Lord on Monday, December 22, 2025. Stephan was born November 2, 1972, in Elkhart, Indiana, and was a proud graduate of Elkhart Memorial High School. One evening while cruising the streets of Elkhart, he met Sara Fries, and the two quickly fell in love. Stephan and Sara were married in Granger on September 30, 1995, and recently celebrated 30 years of marriage filled with love, laughter, and life together.

Surviving is his wife and best friend, Sara, along with their daughters whom he adored, Meghan (fiancé Jordan Mlagan) Clairday and Camryn Clairday. Also surviving are his mother and stepfather, Sheryl and Mike Snell, his father and stepmother, Jimmy and Candy Clairday, his sister, Tonya Clairday, his in-laws, Bill and Jan Fries, his brother-in-law, Eric Fries, and his sister-in-law, Tina Thornton and her husband, Jim. He was preceded in death by his three favorite fur babies, Leia, Ozzy, and Nola.

Stephan was employed for many years as a draftsman at Skyline Champion Corporation, where he was well respected for his dedication, reliability, and strong work ethic. In his free time, Stephan loved riding his Indian Roadmaster on long road trips with friends across the country or closer to home, always finding the most unique restaurants and ice cream shops along the way. He enjoyed building Lego sets and model cars and collecting Funko Pop figures. He had a deep appreciation for classic cars, especially his ’67 and ’72 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supremes and took great pride in the rat rod he built from the frame up. Movies and television were another passion, especially Star Wars and Marvel Universe movies and TV shows.

Stephan was a Boy Scout who loved Scouting and became a devoted fan of the New Orleans Saints, because he loved the Fleur de Lis logo shared by both. He enjoyed archery, shooting sports, and racing R/C cars. He was known as the go to guy who could fix just about anything. If he did not know how, he would learn, often through hours of research on YouTube, and tackle the repair like a professional. Friends and family could always count on Stephan, and his help was given freely, never expecting anything in return.

He loved to cook and was especially talented on the grill and smoker. Stephan was also a lighthearted “Facebook warrior” who enjoyed sharing photos and leaving humorous comments, often replying “TFTI” or “Thanks for the Invite!” whenever someone posted about an outing.

Stephan was a newer follower of Jesus, but his faith was evident, especially during his time in the hospital, where he found peace and comfort. He attended Crossroads Community Church in Goshen, where his faith grew and meaningful connections were made. Psalm 73:26 reflects the strength he found in his walk with Christ: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” His faith served as a quiet testimony and an invitation to those around him to seek hope, strength, and healing in Jesus.

Above all else, Stephan loved his family. Sara was his best friend, and he proudly referred to Sara, Meghan, and Camryn as “his girls.” He loved being a girl dad and fully supported his daughters in all they did, always cheering them on with pride and unconditional love.

There will be 2 hours of visitation prior to the 3:00 pm Celebration of Life service for Stephan on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Crossroads Community Church main campus, 57415 Alpha Dr, Goshen, IN 46528. We invite those unable to attend in person to join us for a livestream of the funeral service, so everyone can honor and remember Stephan together by viewing his service in real time by following the link below. The family encourages you to wear your favorite motorcycle gear in his honor. Cruz Family Funeral Home has been entrusted with his arrangements.

To light a virtual candle, share a story of Stephan’s life, or leave a message of comfort for his girls, please follow the links provided on the Guestbook tab above.

Disclaimer: All obituaries published by Cruz Family Funeral Home are the intellectual property of Cruz Family Funeral Home. They may not be copied, edited, altered, reproduced, or scraped for use on any other website or platform without explicit written permission. Unauthorized use, duplication, or modification of any obituary content is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action.