Bruce E. Poarch

Bruce Poarch, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 31, 2024, at his home in Elkhart, Indiana. Born in Elkhart on August 16, 1956 to Etta and Authur Poarch. Bruce lived a life characterized by selflessness, dedication, and unwavering love for his family, community, and his amazing car collection and of course motorcycles. 

Bruce is survived by his beloved wife, Sandra Poarch, and their four children: Tiffany (Shawn) McLaughlin, Rachel (Nathan) Stephens, Ryan (Melissa) Hendershott, and Michael (Caroline) Poarch. His legacy also includes six adoring grandchildren: Emma McLaughlin, Maya McLaughlin, Alli Poarch, Apollo Poarch, Drew Yoder, and Trever Yoder. Bruce is also survived by his siblings, Judy Ridley and Jerry (Angie) Poarch. Bruce is preceded in death by his parents Etta and Authur Poarch, his siblings Velma Sanderson, Billie Butts and Alan Poarch.

Throughout his life, Bruce was known for his extraordinary generosity and tireless commitment to those around him. He Loved all of his children and grandchildren more than life itself and never missed an opportunity to share their stories and his happy memories with each of them. His immense pride in his children and grandkids are likely his greatest legacy. He was a man who spent his days ensuring the happiness and well-being of others, never seeking recognition or reciprocity for himself. His influence extended far beyond his immediate circle, touching countless lives in Elkhart and beyond. 

Michael Poarch, Bruce’s youngest son, reflects on his father’s passing with deep sorrow and gratitude. “There are no words to capture how profoundly he will be missed by all his family and friends,” Michael shares. “My dad is the most selfless man I’ve ever known. He spent his entire life taking care of his friends and family without ever asking for, or allowing help in return. He set the bar extraordinarily high as a father, husband, brother, grandpa and friend. You can’t visit 1 place in this state without running into someone whose life wasn’t positively influenced by knowing him. Everywhere I ever went with him we’d run into an old friend or colleague who was always thrilled at the chance to say hello and enthusiastically share their favorite memories with him. His impact on this community is tremendous and immeasurable. Anyone who was fortunate enough to know him already knows that he would want us to remember all of the fun, happy and silly times and celebrate a life lived to the fullest and without regret. 

His wife, Sandra, said, “it's hard to imagine how 1 man could have affected so many lives from all over, and his garage door was always open. It was kind of his way of saying, Welcome, come on over.”

A graduate of Elkhart Memorial High School, he was part of the second graduating class from Memorial. Bruce’s early passion for automobiles led him to the Auto Mechanics class at the Elkhart Career Center during his 11th and 12th grades, igniting a lifelong love for anything that runs on gas.

In a career spanning an impressive 50 years in the automotive repair business, Bruce has only ever worked for just 3 different companies, spending nearly 30 years with Bud's Body Shop and almost 15 years with CRS Custom, Bruce made countless lifelong friends and ultimately became a mentor to dozens of young men. There's no shortage of people that looked to Bruce for direction and morale guidance. He loved helping everyone so much he even volunteered at the career center's automotive division, helping judge national competitions. 

In his personal life, Bruce has been happily married for 39 years and is a proud parent to four children. With three granddaughters and one grandson, family is a cornerstone of his life. Bruce’s hobbies include working on his classic cars and indulging in the thrill of riding motorcycles. Throughout his diverse experiences, both professionally and personally, Bruce remains dedicated to his love for automotive repair and the joy it brings to those he serves.

In honor of Bruce’s remarkable life, a celebration of life will be held September 14th, 2024 at CRS Custom, 1724 Lincolnway West, Osceola, IN 46561 from 1-5pm. The family encourages all who knew Bruce to remember him with the joy and laughter he brought to us all. Bruce’s legacy is one of immense love, selfless sacrifice, and service to others, and though he is no longer with us, his memory will forever inspire and uplift those who were fortunate enough to know him. Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, is assisting the Poarch family 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514. Online condolences may be made to Bruce’s family at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com Memorial donations in memory of Bruce may be made to the Elkhart Career Center- Elkhart Community Schools-Administration Building, 2720 California Road, Elkhart, IN 46514

The world has lost a true American hero, but heaven has gained an angel. Bruce Poarch’s life was a testament to the power of love and community, and he will be dearly missed.