Caleb J. Fry

2004 - 2025

Caleb J. Fry
Born: December 29, 2004
Died: September 5, 2025
Caleb J. Fry
A life. Unfinished.
12.29.04–9.5.25
It is with broken hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Caleb Joseph Fry on September 5, 2025, from this temporary life to his eternal home. Caleb, of Joliet and most recently Lockport, was born on December 29, 2004, to parents Tom and Helen (Malone) Fry. Younger brother to Joshua (Katie), Matthew, and Robbie and older brother to Ethan, Daniel, and Seth, a young Caleb was endlessly curious and excessively mischievous. The middlest of the Fry boys, he held his own growing up in a house filled with chaos and love. He collided with every new experience and stranger.
As a student at Thomas Jefferson Grade School, Hufford Junior High School, and Joliet West High School, Caleb forged life-long friendships. Never one to follow the rules, his quick wit, dimpled smile, and kind heart charmed everyone around him. With a keen sense of his own fashion, he often changed outfits five times a day and his hairstyle just slightly less often.
What he lacked in restraint, he made up for in creativity and wonder at the world around him. With the soul of a poet, Caleb captured sunsets in daily photos and his thoughts in verse. With the mind of an engineer and the hands of a mechanic, he could quickly see how things worked. Caleb was wildly successful at taking things apart, although he sometimes lost interest in putting them back together. Leaving black handprints on doors and a mound of clothes on the floor, his time was better spent with his diverse group of friends and his much-loved cousins, starting random conversations and taking time out for naps when necessary. Changing interests made him a talented woodworker, fisherman, Pokémon "investor," sunset chaser, avid photographer, climber, lover of animals, and finder of endless new hobbies.
Caleb's passion for cars became his calling. Gaining experience on the job, he worked at Belle Tire in Joliet, Rush Truck Centers in Carol Stream, and Marvin's Motor City in Morris, picking up skills, friends, and stories along the way. He recently opened VC Driven Autoworks in Joliet and was looking forward to building his new business with one of those friends, Victor Flores. As proud as he was of his brothers, they were even prouder of how talented Caleb was and how hard he worked at his craft.
Survived by his heartbroken family and friends, including his parents; his brothers and sister-in-law; his favorite nephew Wilder Fry; his cherished grandmothers Ann Malone and Judy Homan; his beloved aunt(ie)s and uncles Maureen (Mike) Demer, Mark (Kim) Malone, Chris (Kathleen) Malone, Cathy Malone, Patrick Malone, Billy (Jen) Malone, John Malone, Michael (Gail) Fry, Larry (Sheila) Fry, Annette Haupt, David (Adrienne) Fry, Amy (Mike) Steffgen, Andrew (Andrea) Fry; his cousins Sean, Maggie, Ryan, and Molly Demer, Mary, Christopher (J'Sondra), Clara, Sarah, Marissa, Marla, and McKenna Malone, Ethan and Maggie Bauer, Patricia (Kristopher) Russell, Kristen (Dustin) Hughey, Amanda (Corey) Cruse, Elizabeth (Isaiah) Woodruff, Alexandra and Nathan Fry, Heather (Riley) Onken, Rachel (Brandon) Parker, Jenny (John) Weber, Molly Haupt, Jessica (Adam) Schmelzel, Hannah, Tim (Yavanna), Adam (Skye), Zachary, and Luke (Kaley) Fry; the love of his life, Gray Perez; his second family, the Locastos; and too many friends to list for fear of leaving out someone dear to him.
Proceeded in death by his grandfathers Robert "Bob" Homan and Gerard "Jerry" Malone.
If you've ever had the pleasure to experience the contradiction that was Caleb, please consider sharing this life unfinished. Continue to speak Caleb's name, spread his stories, and consider donating to
The Jed Foundation
PO Box 412945
Boston, MA 02241
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 4:00-8:00 PM at the Overman-Jones Funeral Home, 15219 S. Joliet Rd., Plainfield, and Thursday, September 11, 9:00-10:00 AM at Grace Bible Church, 114 Channahon St., Shorewood. Funeral Services will follow at 10:00 AM. Interment will be private. For information please call 815/436-9221 or visit www.overman-jones.com