James Smallets Obituary

James A. "Jim" Smallets

Jul 7, 1943 - Jan 25, 2026

Fremont

James A. "Jim" Smallets, 82, of Fremont, left his earthly home Sunday, January 25, 2026, at Stein Hospice in Sandusky, surrounded by the love of his family and a caring nursing staff. Jim was born July 7, 1943, to James and Iva (Burch) Smallets in Fremont. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Carolyn, and a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

A 1961 graduate of Clyde High School, Jim married Carolyn Thomson, daughter of Lawrence and Esther Thomson of Clyde, April 3, 1965. After 60 years together as partners and best friends, and raising two daughters, Carolyn survives. Jim spent 35 years working in the tool & die department at Whirlpool Corporation in Clyde. He spent 11 years at the skilled bench and 24 years as a shift supervisor. He served seven years in the Ohio National Guard.

Jim was happy and content with the simple things in life. In his younger years, he raced go-karts, drag-raced his Oldsmobile 442 at Norwalk Raceway Park, fished and trapped, was a Boy Scout Leader, assisted with his daughters' Girl Scout Troops, including Camp Alaska, competed in Bowling Leagues, and ran 5K & 10K races. He led a team of coworkers to build adult tricycles to compete in the Whirlpool Trike Races at Cedar Point. Later, he loved metal detecting to discover rare finds and help reunite people with lost rings and items. He loved gardening, cooking, coin collecting, backpacking in the Adirondack Mountains, morel mushroom hunting, feeding and watching birds, golfing, and fishing, and he took great pride in winning ribbons for exhibits at the Sandusky County Fair. He traveled to 49 states and enjoyed several Caribbean and Alaska cruises. He was skilled in writing nature and family poetry. Over his lifetime, he donated 54 pints of a rare blood type, often distributed to infants in need.

His loving memory will continue on with his wife, Carolyn; daughters, Jamie (Mike) Kochensparger and Jodi (Ty) Shaull; granddaughters, Corinne (Luke) Boes and Lauren (Chance) Greenlee; great-grandchildren, Avery Boes, Annastyn Boes, Zeke Boes, Zoey Boes, Nora Greenlee and Clara Greenlee; brother-in-law, Brian (Alice)Thomson; sisters-in-laws, Marsha (Ray) Laurent and Ruthann Thomson; as well as many friends and extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Iva Smallets; and brothers-in-law, James and Larry Thomson.

Jim's memorial service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 7, 2026, at First United Methodist Church in Clyde.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Stein Hospice of Sandusky, First United Methodist Church of Clyde, or Back to the Wild Wildlife Center.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Auxter-Recker Funeral Home in Clyde. For full obituary, visit www.auxter-recker.com