Obituaries

Kathryn Ann Stepleton, age 92, of Lima passed away at Primrose Retirement Community in Lima on Saturday, September 16, 2023. She was born on August 23, 1931 in Lima to the late J. Paul and Margaret (Sharrits) Fisher.

Kate graduated from Lima Central High School in 1949 and went on to attend Wittenberg University. While in college she majored in Physical Education and minored in Art and was active in Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. After graduating from Wittenberg in 1953, she proceeded on to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota where she earned a degree in Physical Therapy. Kate went on to work for Lima Visiting Nurse Association, Lima Memorial Hospital, Bluffton Community Hospital, and Lima Convalescent Home as a registered Physical Therapist.

On September 10, 1955 Kate married her high school sweetheart Theodore (Ted) Stepleton at St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lima, Ohio. After their marriage they lived in Hilliard Ohio for three years but then returned to Lima where they have lived for the last 65 years. Kate was a lifelong member of St. Luke’s where she served on church council and was a third grade Sunday School teacher for many years. Other civic activities she participated in were the Lowell School PTA and the Lima Junior Service League. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Developmental Center at Lima Memorial Hospital for over 50 years.

Kate’s favorite pastimes included tennis, walking, bike riding, bridge, table tennis, and pickleball. She and Ted were long-time members of Westside Swim and Racquet Club and Shawnee Country club where they played in many tennis tournaments together. Kate also participated in the Senior Olympics, competing locally and nationally in table tennis. She loved spending summers at Lakeside, Ohio and winters in Sarasota, Florida. She also enjoyed spending time with the members of her large Fisher family as well as her immediate family. She cherished time traveling and hosting her children and grandchildren at Lakeside and Sarasota.

Kate is survived by her husband of 68 years, Ted Stepleton of Lima. She is also survived by her three children: Cheryl (Rob) Cusick, Theodore P. (Jennifer) Stepleton, and Cathy (Jeff) Mart, who all reside in Lima. In addition she is survived by nine grandchildren: Eric (Brittany) Cusick, Sarah (Steve) Recio, Andrew (Jenn) Mart, Jessica Stepleton, Teddy (Katie Heil) Stepleton , Julie (Patrick) Bonifas, Elizabeth (Kyle) Bull, Emily (Garrett Black) Stepleton , Christopher (Shae Crist) Mart and 11 Great Grandchildren: Carson Cusick, Connor Cusick, Caden Recio, Abigail Mart, Hannah Mart, Sammy Recio, Arthur Bonifas, Andrew (AJ) Mart, Calvin Bonifas, Gracie Bull, and Logan Bull. She is also survived by her sister Peggy Allen, brother-in-law Bill Allen, sisters-in-law Barbara Fisher and Nancy Stepleton, brother-in-law John Tebben, and 33 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents J. Paul and Margaret Fisher, two sisters: Lillian Schnabel and Sally Tebben, two brothers: John C. Fisher and James P. Fisher, sisters-in-law Marilyn Fisher, Roberta Miller, and Rosemary Stepleton, brothers-in-law: Jim Stepleton, Bob Stepleton, and Tom Miller, and her father and mother-in-law Theodore E. and Rosina (Gratz) Stepleton.

Contributions in Kate’s memory may be made to the Lima Rescue Mission (216 E. Wayne Street, Lima 45801) or St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (209 W. North Street, Lima 45801)

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 25, 2023, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, with Pastor Dave Westphal to officiate the service. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be Sunday, September 24, 2023, from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m., at the Shawnee Chapel of Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services and again on Monday at the church, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church.

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