Stephen Lee Thayer

October 11, 1942 – May 30, 2025

Words cannot begin to express the love we felt and the powerful lessons of devotion and resilience we learned from our beloved husband, dad, grandpa and great grandpa, Stephen Lee Thayer (Steve). While he is known for so much more than his 30-year battle with cancer, his positivity, strength and gratitude for life during that time are perhaps the most powerful examples of his eternal love of family. We learned so much from Steve about appreciation, perseverance, even when all the cards seem stacked against you, plus embracing joy and humor when times are difficult. We will remember and miss him all the remaining days of our lives.

Born on Oct. 11, 1942, in Cleveland, Ohio, Steve grew up in Rocky River in a cute little home on Inglewood Avenue. His family had a long history in Ohio, and Steve enjoyed many adventures with his friends around town and in the fields behind his home—sometimes being a little mischievous by his telling. Childhood sparked his dedication to Cleveland sports. Early on, while his dad ran the family paint and wallpaper store, Steve attended Cleveland Indians “Ladies Days” with his mom for about $4 a game. Around age 10, he began his lifelong loyalty to the Cleveland Browns. Of course they were champions in Steve’s childhood, and he stuck with them through thick and thin—mostly thin—for the rest of his life.

During high school, he played football, wrestled, medaled in middle- and long-range track events, and, most important, met the love of his life Joan Shockey while serving as hall monitor in 1958. He accepted Joan’s invitation to a Sadie Hawkins dance at Rocky River High School, marking the beginning of an extraordinary love story of partnership, devotion, and fun and laughter, too.

Steve and Joan married in Fairfield, Iowa in 1964 and eventually journeyed to Ridgewood, N.J., where Steve's career as a financial analyst in the aerospace industry began and then led them to live in many beautiful parts of the country—Ann Arbor, Mich. (Go Blue!), Lakewood, Colo. and Westlake Village, Calif.—before retiring in Henderson, Nev.

Together, they raised two daughters, Kathy and Karen, sharing many family adventures along the way. Inspired by childhood summers fishing on Lake Erie and the lakes of Haliburton, Canada, Steve and Joan purchased a small trailer. Together the family enjoyed camping every summer throughout the West’s national parks—hiking (without water to drink in the early days) in places like the Grand Canyon and memorizing funny quotes from rangers they met along the way. In more recent years, they built many treasured memories annually on beautiful Lake McDonald in their cherished Glacier National Park—Steve hiking well into his eightieth year and passing photography knowledge onto his children and four grandchildren, Courtney, Nick, Kelsey and Tyler.

Lovingly known as "funny grandpa" by his grandchildren for his “dad jokes,” funny sayings, Goofy and Donald Duck impressions, funny faces and favorite sayings, Steve kept everyone in stitches. His sly smirk always indicated when he thought he was funny, and his giggles proved contagious. Just as funny and memorable to the kids, nobody could top the intensity of his nausea-provoking spins on the Mad Tea Party teacups at Walt Disney World in Florida.

With Joan as his champion, Steve’s discipline and focus over the last 30 years defied the odds, earning him the title of "Superman" by his doctors. Steve’s family is forever grateful for the extra time he won for them. As his granddaughter Courtney said, “Every bit of time he had with us was hard-earned.”

In Joan’s embrace and with additional family by his side, Steve passed away on May 30, 2025, at age 82, at his home in Henderson, Nev.

He is survived by Joan Thayer, his beloved wife of more than 60 years; daughters Kathy Linch (Mike) and Karen Garner (Tim); grandchildren Courtney Rieger (Erik), Nick Garner, Kelsey Garner and Tyler Linch; and great-grandchildren Corin and Piper Rieger. He was preceded in death by his dad Lowell, mom Elsie, and brothers Neal and Alan.

Steve’s family will hold a celebration of life with friends this fall. In lieu of flowers, please donate to cancer research.