My name is Justen, Erich’s nephew, and I am creating this on behalf of my aunt Amy, Erich’s wife of 25 years. Erich passed away suddenly on July 21, 2026, at just 48 years old. His loss was completely unexpected, and our family is still trying to understand how someone who was such a big part of our lives can suddenly be gone.
Erich was the kind of person you could always count on. He worked hard, cared deeply about the people around him, and never hesitated to lend a hand when someone needed it. His sarcastic, witty sense of humor always had a way of making you laugh, even on the hardest days. He loved his family and friends fiercely, though I’m sure any of his friends would tell you they felt more like family. That was the kind of man Erich was: kind, loyal, and genuine, with a way of making everyone around him feel welcomed and valued.
We are raising $6,500 to help cover his funeral and final expenses. Losing Erich so suddenly has been heartbreaking, and the financial burden has made an already difficult time even harder. Any amount would help our family tremendously.
If you can’t donate, sharing this or simply keeping Erich and our family in your thoughts and prayers means just as much. I’ve also included his obituary below for anyone who would like to share a memory or get to know Erich a little better through the memories of his family, friends, and colleagues.
Erich, we miss you more than words can say, and even if we had the words, I’m sure we’d be crying too hard to get them out in anything resembling a coherent sentence. So we’ll keep it simple: we love you, we miss you, and we’ll carry you with us always. Although, knowing you, you’d probably be making fun of us for getting this sentimental.
Obituary:
In Memory of Erich J Thorn
