Carole A. Stechschulte, 83, passed away April 24, 2026, at 12:45 am, Mercy Health - St. Rita's Medical Center. Carole was born on November 2, 1942, in Bluffton to the late William and Katherine (Steegman) Parkins. In March of 1999, she married Thomas Stechschulte, who preceded her in death on May 18, 2025. 

Carole graduated from Beaverdam High School and was a homemaker. Before she had children, she worked at Ohio Power and Kewpee Downtown Lima. Carole attended St. John's Community Church in Columbus Grove and was a member of the Lima Eagles Club. She loved sports, especially watching her grandchildren participate. Carole also enjoyed playing euchre, bowling, baking, water skiing, go-carts and traveling with her husband. She loved spending time with her husband, family and close friends at Marble Lake, Michigan.

Survivors include four children, Tom (Mindy) Bassitt of Bluffton, Meg (Todd) Wyss of Ada, Lisa (Denny Haferd) Harrod of Indian Lake, Janelle (Fred) Wolford of Bluffton; twenty-five grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; her step-children, Keith (Deana) Stechschulte of Windsor, Connecticut, Nathan (Janelle) Stechschulte of Atlanta, Georgia, Michael (Amy) Stechschulte of Columbus Grove, Ann (Ed) Alanyak of Dayton, Ohio; three brothers, Edward (Lynette) Parkins of Bluffton, Phillip Parkins of Lima, William (Christopher VanSchoyck) Parkins of Beaverdam and a sister, Rebecca Franck of Shreve, Ohio.

Carole was preceded in death by a daughter, Janine Bassitt and three siblings, Douglas Parkins, Jon Parkins and Sharon Marshall.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 1, 2026, at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services - Bluffton with Ryan Dunlap is officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be on Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bluffton Athletic Boosters. 

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com/