Owen Henry Held Jr.
Jun 23, 2026
Owen Henry Held, Jr., age 53, a longtime Portage resident, passed away Monday, June 23, 2026. He was born on November 3, 1972. Owen grew up in Hobart and attended Hobart High School, Class of 1991. He worked as a Concrete Finisher for Local 692. Owen was a member of the Portage VFW Auxiliary and enjoyed hanging out with his...
James Anthony Kalberer
Jun 21, 2026
James Anthony Kalberer, age 60, of Hobart passed away unexpectedly on June 21, 2026, in the Harbor Care and Rehab Center in East Chicago, Indiana. Jim was born August 16, 1965, in Gary, Indiana, to Lewis and the late Jeanette (Davis) Kalberer. He was loved and will be missed by his family.
Jim is survived by his father Lewis “Joe” Kalberer...
Jackie Wendell Hendrix
Jun 21, 2026
Jackie Wendell Hendrix, age 78, of Kingsford Heights, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 21, 2026. He was born on April 25, 1948, in Evansville, Indiana, to the late D.W. and Carrie Hendricks.
On June 28, 1966, Jackie married the love of his life, Gale Girton, in New Chicago, Indiana. Together, they shared 59 wonderful years of marriage filled with love,...
Thomas Magallanez, Sr. "Tom Kat"
Jun 19, 2026
THOMAS “TOM KAT” MAGALLANEZ, SR., age 79, of Hobart, passed away Friday, June 19, 2026, while surrounded by his loving family. He was born on July 20, 1946 in McAllen, TX. He retired from BP Amoco after many years of service as a machinist. Thomas was a member of the VFW Post #9323 Auxiliary and the Sociedad Mutualista Mexico. He...
Melody Lynn Proffer
Jun 19, 2026
Melody L. Proffer, age 60, of Hobart, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 19, 2026. She was born on June 4, 1966, in Gary, Indiana.
On February 13, 1999, Melody married the love of her life, Andrew J. Proffer, Jr. in Hobart. A devoted wife and loving mother, Melody dedicated her life to caring for her family. She found her greatest...
Larry Collins
Jun 17, 2026
Larry R. Collins
January 18, 1960 – June 17, 2026
Larry Collins 66, of Union Mills, IN, passed away peacefully on June 17 at home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on January 18, 1960, in Gary, IN to Myrtle and Edward Collins.
Larry grew up in Hobart, IN and attended Hobart High School. He was a lifelong mechanic who dedicated...
Thomas Edward Niksich
Jun 16, 2026
Thomas Edward Niksich, age 74, of Hobart, Indiana, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
Born on May 1, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois, Tom was the son of the late Michael and Dorothy (Jaskula) Niksich. He graduated from Bishop Noll High School and went on to build a long and dedicated career at Inland Steel Company, retiring in 2013 after...
Jerry Merl Quillen
Jun 13, 2026
Jerry Merl Quillen July 6, 1944 – June 13, 2026
Jerry Merl Quillen, age 81, of Hobart, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 13, 2026. He was born on July 6, 1944, in Gary, Indiana, to the late Johney and Erma Quillen.
A proud 1962 graduate of Hobart High School, Jerry went on to serve his country honorably in the United States...
Raymond E. Scott
Jun 9, 2026
Raymond E. Scott, age 70, of Hobart passed away Tuesday June 9, 2026, at St Mary Medical Center in Hobart. He was born February 3, 1956, in Gary, Indiana to the late John and Ernestine (Travis) Scott. He was a laborer. He loved his time spent in Monticello, working, hunting, and fishing. He loved spending time with his family, playing...
Lisa Marie Balcerak
Jun 8, 2026
Lisa Marie Balcerak, age 47, of Portage, Indiana went to be with the Lord on June 8, 2026, after a courageous battle with Linitis Plastica Cancer. Lisa was born June 2, 1979, in Valparaiso, Indiana, to Thomas and Jan Balcerak. She graduated from Wheeler High School in 1997 and earned an Associate Degree in Business from a Community College in...
Patricia Ann Giertz
Jun 5, 2026
Patricia Ann Giertz
July 22, 1947 – June 5, 2026
Patricia Ann Giertz, age 78, of Portage, Indiana, passed away on Friday, June 5, 2026. She was born on July 22, 1947, to the late Edgar and Irene (nee Johnson) Watkins.
Patricia was a proud 1965 graduate of Portage High School and went on to serve her community for many years, retiring as...
Philip W. Wolfe
Jun 4, 2026
PHILIP W. WOLFE, age 67, of Lake Station, passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2026, holding the hand of his wife, while listening to a recording of his granddaughter singing. He was born in Gary on October 19, 1958, to the late Robert and Dorothy Wolfe. He married the love of his life, Brenda Wyant on November 3, 1979. Phil...
Debborah Kaye Morse-Kristelli
Jun 2, 2026
Debborah K. Morse-Kristelli, age 69, of Lake Station, passed away on June 2, 2026. She was born on August 13, 1956, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Debbie enjoyed spending time with her monthly BUNCO group and cherished the friendships she made over the years. She held several jobs throughout her life, but her greatest joy and most important role was raising her family....
Patricia Rose Toscani
Jun 1, 2026
Patricia R. Toscani (nee Wheeler), age 82, of Chesterton, Indiana, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 1, 2026. She was born on November 15, 1943, in Gary, Indiana, to the late Charles and Eleanor (nee Woodruff) Boswell.
On May 1, 1971, Patricia married the love of her life, Joseph Edwin Toscani, in Crown Point, Indiana. Together they built a family centered...
Christian Michael Wedding
May 30, 2026
Christian Michael Wedding, age 50, of Portage, passed away Saturday, May 30, 2026, at home. He was born on January 2, 1976, in Hammond, Indiana.
A devoted follower of Christ, Christian found great purpose in traveling with Christafari missionaries, sharing the message and love of Jesus with others. He loved playing guitar and had a deep appreciation for music, especially the...
Angela Talmadge
May 28, 2026
Angela Talmadge, age 66, of Portage, Indiana, passed away on May 28, 2026. She was born on May 17, 1960, in Wichita Falls , Texas, to the late Stanley and Pilar (nee Picazo) Razmus. On June 29, 1997, she married the love of her life, William Talmadge, in Munster, Indiana. Angela was a devoted homemaker who dedicated her life to...
Tonya R. Smith
May 27, 2026
Tonya R. Smith March 25, 1975 – May 27, 2026
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Tonya R. Smith, who passed away on May 27, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 51.
Tonya was born on March 25, 1975, in North Judson, Indiana. She was a proud member of the Hobart Eagles and was known...
Bill Raftopoulos
May 25, 2026
Bill Raftopoulos, age 88, of Miller, passed away Monday, May 25, 2026, in his home. Bill was born May 25, 1938, in Aigion, Greece to the late Panagiotis and Theodora (Thomas) Raftopoulos. He worked at Inland Steel as a crane operator and was a barber for over forty years. Bill came from a family of barbers. He was a veteran...
Patricia Carol Pecher
May 25, 2026
Patricia Carol Pecher (Rabe), age 77, of Portage, passed away Monday, May 25, 2026. She was born on February 26, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois, to the late Edward and Margaret Rabe. On April 16, 1966, she married Robert Pecher in Chicago, Illinois.
Pat dedicated her life to caring for her family and made it a priority to be involved in all...
Jeanette Niepokoj Kesel
May 25, 2026
Jeanette Kesel (nee Niepokoj), age 97, of Crown Point, passed away peacefully at home on May 25, 2026. She was born on July 10, 1928, in Gary, Indiana, to the late Stanley and Sophie Niepokoj. Jeanette graduated from Emerson High School in 1947. On July 16, 1949, she married Stanley M. Kesel, Jr., in Gary, Indiana.
Jeanette was a dedicated member...
