Carolyn S. Pasanen

Carolyn was born August 3, 1938, in Frankfort, Indiana, to the late Herbert F. and Ruth V. (Martin) Miller. Raised on a farm near Geetingsville, Indiana, Carolyn was very active in 4H and won the Reserve Grand Champion 4H Steer at the Indiana State Fair in 1955. You can take the girl off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the girl, and she remained interested in the 4H and farming activities of her brothers as well as her many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews over the years.

After graduating from Rossville High School, Carolyn went on to study Home Economics at Purdue University where she was a member and her pledge class president of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. While at Purdue, she met the love of her life, the late John O. Pasanen, to whom she was married for 55 years.

Carolyn had a very successful career as an employment counselor for over 30 years, owning her own employment agency, Dan Lane Personnel. She loved her line of work and was a former member of the American Business Women’s Association for many years.

After her retirement, Carolyn was a very active and well-loved member of the PrimeLife Enrichment Senior Center in Carmel, Indiana, where she had many friends and enjoyed volunteering, singing with the music club, and participating in book club as well as watercolor and card making classes.

She was a wonderful cook and loved to entertain family and friends as often as possible. Carolyn loved spending time with her family most of all, and loved to dance, travel, shop, antique and garden. She was an avid sports fan (especially basketball!) and remained a loyal Boilermaker basketball and football fan throughout her life. She also loved to enthusiastically cheer on the Indiana Pacers, Fever, and Indianapolis Colts. She was her children’s, grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s biggest and most spirited fan in all of their sporting endeavors, and she rarely missed a game.

The most loving, devoted and cherished mother, Carolyn is survived by her children, Greg (Betsey) Pasanen of Port Charlotte, Florida, Susan (Joe) Peek of Kokomo, Indiana, Cheryl Pasanen of Fishers, Indiana, and Brent (Chris) Pasanen of Carmel, Indiana; grandchildren Amy (Michael) Mack, Eric Pasanen, Cameron Peek, Case (Taylor) Pasanen, Matt (Abbey) Pasanen; and great-grandchildren Summer Mack and Tyler Mack.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband, John Pasanen; parents Herbert and Ruth Miller; and siblings Dale Miller, Wayne Miller, Lee Miller and Alice Shaffer.

Visitation will be held from 1:00p.m. to 2:00p.m. on Saturday, January 30, 2027, at Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, with a memorial service immediately following at 2:00p.m. A celebration of life gathering will take place immediately following the memorial service. Exact time and place to be determined.

Memorial contributions may be made to PrimeLife Enrichment – Senior Center for Hamilton County. Arrangements by Leppert Mortuary, Smith Carmel Chapel.