obituaries

Nov 14, 2025

BONNIE (WAYTE) BALLANTYNE DIED NOVEMBER 14, 2025, BORN APRIL 18, 1932, IN GARY IN TO RICHARD AND GRACE (BARKER) WAYTE.  SHE MARRIED JOHN K. BALLANTYNE ON OCTOBER 19, 1957, AND THEY WERE MARRIED FOR 61 YEARS AND HE PRECEDES HER IN DEATH.

BONNIE HAD 4 BROTHERS; JIM, BUCK, AL AND DICK AND 3 SISTERS; MAY, VIRGE AND...

Nov 14, 2025

Edward A. Babich, age 76 of Portage, passed away Friday, November 14, 2025, at home. He was born on November 28, 1948, in East Chicago, Indiana to the late Thomas and Ann Babich. Ed was a member of the United Steelworkers Union Local #1066 and retired from US Steel where he worked as a Millwright. He was a dedicated...

Nov 13, 2025

Kimberly L. Fazekas

Age 63, of Lake Station passed away Thursday, November 13, 2025, at St. Mary Medical Center. She was born on April 26,1962 in Gary, Indiana to Daniel and Anne (nee Plummer) Dybalski. Kimberly was a loving and giving soul who always put others before herself. Thoughtful in every way, she had a special gift...

Nov 13, 2025

Jesus Anthony "Jesse" Pedroza, Sr., age 64, of Valparaiso, passed away Thursday, November 13, 2025 while surrounded by his family. He was born on November 20, 1960 to the late Joe and Delia Pedroza. He graduated from River Forest High School and then proudly served in the US Army. He was married to Milta Pedroza on July 31, 1982,...

Nov 11, 2025

Ruby Pearl Sundmacher Foster passed away November 11, 2025, at the age of 101 years old. She was born on January 7, 1924. She was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. Most of all she was a devoted follower and servant of our Lord, Jesus Christ. She was born in Harco, Illinois to her parents, Ruby and...

Nov 9, 2025

Violet Jean Kolczak, age 88, of Hobart passed away Sunday November 9, 2025, at St Mary Medical Center. She was born September 1, 1937, in Gary, Indiana to the late Henry Oscar and Daisie Irene (Hoskinson) Wineinger. She Retired from NIPSCO as an office worker. Violet was a homemaker and loving wife.

Violet is survived by her...

Nov 7, 2025

Betty Lee Hullett

Age 74 of Portage passed away peacefully on Friday, November 7,2025 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on December 17, 1950, in Owensboro, Kentucky to the late Leslie R. and Mary Louise (nee Alvey) Damron. Betty had a warm and joyful spirit and found happiness in life's simple pleasures. She loved the...

Nov 7, 2025

James C. E. Sutton

Age 56, of Lake Station passed away Friday, November 7,2025 at St. Mary Medical Center. He was born on November 2, 1969, in Zion, Illinois to the late Jerry Sutton and Alice (nee Short) Evans. James married the love of his life Kimberly (nee Wilshire) Sutton on November 10, 2001, in Valparaiso.

Nov 6, 2025

Donna M. Stewart, age 81, of Crown Point, formerly a longtime Hobart resident, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on November 6, 2025. She was born on October 1, 1944, in Aurora, Illinois to the late Nelson and Annette Casey. On February 18, 1967, Donna married the love of her life, William R. Stewart. Together they built a beautiful...

Nov 5, 2025

Thelma Jean Wright, affectionately known as "Sis" age 73, of Portage, Indiana passed away peacefully on November 5, 2025. Thelma was born on September 1, 1952, in Durant, Mississippi to the late Mary Alice (Grant) Wright and John Allen Wright. She later moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she began her adult journey and built a meaningful life rooted in...

Nov 5, 2025

Edward Leon Haddix, age 83, a longtime Hobart resident, passed away on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.  He was born on April 19, 1942, in Gary, Indiana, to the late Leon and Opal Marie Haddix.   He served his country in the U.S. Air Force.  Edward worked at Walker Tile as a Salesman.  He enjoyed remodeling and traveling to Spain.

Nov 1, 2025

Curtis "Lumpy" Remus, 78, of Hobart, Indiana, passed away on November 1, 2025, in Munster, Indiana. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many, Curt left behind a legacy of hard work, generosity, and community spirit. Born on December 17, 1946, in Gary, Indiana, Curt was a proud graduate of River Forest High School's Class of 1965. His...

Nov 1, 2025

Donovan Kaufman, age 50 of Hobart passed away Saturday, November 1, 2025.  He was born on June 26, 1975 in Valparaiso, Indiana to the late Raymond and Nadine Kaufman.  Donovan was a graduate of Andrean High School, Class of 1993.  He went on to graduate from UTI mechanics program.  He worked for many years at Atlas Transmission in Lake...

Nov 1, 2025

Connie Mattix, 91, of Carmel, Indiana, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 1, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family.

Born on December 25, 1933, Connie was a gift to everyone who knew her. She grew up in Tipton, Indiana, and graduated from Tipton High School before earning her degree from Ball State University. Connie dedicated...

Nov 1, 2025

David Warren McAfee, age 86, died on November 1st, 2025. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, November 22nd from 12 to 3 pm in the barn at County Line Orchard in Hobart, Indiana. All are welcome.

David was born on September 1st, 1939 to Coral Louise (Horner) and Warren Barney McAfee in Hobart,...

Oct 29, 2025

Patricia L. Gospodarek, age 94, of Hobart, passed away peacefully on October 29, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Pat was born on April 2, 1931, in Gary, Indiana to the late Stephen and Adele Zytko. She grew up in Gary, where she attended school at Lew Wallace.

In 1954, she married the love of...

Oct 28, 2025

Maria G. Jackson, age 77, of Lake Station passed away Tuesday October 28, 2025. Maria was born March 10, 1948, in Noicattaro, Italy to the late Pasquale and Santa (Borracci) Didonna. Maria was a steelworker that retired from Cleveland Cliffs Steel Company. Maria was a member of St. Francis-Xavier Catholic Church in Lake Station. She was a member of...

Oct 28, 2025

JOSEPH W. HANENKRATT, age 57, of Portage, passed away Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Joseph was a veteran of the US Army and proud to be an American. He married the love of his life, Ginger (nee Clary) on October 7, 2000, in Hobart, Indiana.  Joe was a member of Steelworkers Local 1010 and had 20+ years of service with...

Oct 28, 2025

Gerald "Jerry" Phillip Clough, age 72 of Portage passed away Tuesday, October 28, 2025.  He was born on June 9, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Phillip and Dorothy Clough (nee Streg).

He is survived by his wife, Marcy Clough (nee Schwab), four children, Adam (Eric Fisher) Clough, Jordan (Laura) Clough, Marlisa (Britton) Clough-Bartz, Dennis Helwig...

Oct 28, 2025

Wilda LaRue Sawaski (nee Mills), age 80 a longtime Portage resident passed away Tuesday, October 28, 2025.  She was born in Gary, Indiana on December 13, 1944, to the late Edwin and Audre Mills.  She worked as a Health Caregiver at Porter Memorial Hospital in Valparaiso.  She enjoyed sewing, crafts, art, drawing, and waterfalls.

She is survived...