obituaries

May 3, 2020

In Loving Memory Husband & Father:

Robert Joseph Spielmann

Age 88, of Crown Point, Indiana, passed gently & naturally in his home with close friends & his son by his side.

(Due to corona virus worldwide Eileen & John from Long Island, N.Y. could not attend his last few days but were there...

May 2, 2020

Lisa R. Starkey, age 52, of Portage passed away Saturday May 2, 2020 in St Mary Medical Center in Hobart.  Lisa was born June 30, 1967 in Valparaiso, Indiana to the late David and Lois (Lemmon) Evans.   Lisa was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister.  She will be deeply missed by her loving family.

Lisa is...

Apr 30, 2020

Murray A Faris II, age 78, of Demotte, passed away Thursday, April 30, 2020.  He was born in Hammond, Indiana on August 1, 1941, to Murray A Faris and Ruth (nee Howe) Faris.  He proudly served his country in the United States Army and was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Highland. Murray was a retired Engineer at...

Apr 29, 2020

Cornelia A. "Connie" Beres, age 74, of Merrillville, passed away Wednesday, April 29, 2020. She was born on October 11, 1945 in Gary, Indiana to the late Daniel and Victoria Beres. She was a 1963 graduate of Hobart High School. Connie worked for 15 years in label control at the Indiana Botanical Gardens. She was an avid Cubs, Bears...

Apr 28, 2020

Glenda S. Kraynak, age 85, of Portage passed away April 28, 2020 at her home surrounded by her loving family.  She was born August 9, 1935 to the late Roland and Melba (nee Taylor) Owen in Vienna, Illinois. She was deeply loved and will be missed by her family.  She attended South Haven Church of the Nazarene when she...

Apr 24, 2020

Jessica Nowak loving, devoted mother, outgoing and deeply loved by her family and friends, age 34, of Hobart, passed away Friday, July 24, 2020.  She was born in Munster, Indiana on November 6, 1985.

Jessica is survived by her daughters, Trubelleve and Makayla; mother, Dawn Nowak; father, Jim Nowak; sister, Rachel Nowak, Grace Ritz, step-sister Jerika Wolotka;...

Apr 23, 2020

Thomas L. Leonard, age 77, of Hobart, passed away Thursday, April 23, 2020.  He was born in Gary, Indiana on November 24, 1942, to James and Eleanor (Flood) Leonard.  He grew up in Hobart and graduated from Hobart High School in 1961. He married Judy Dilliner on October 6, 1962. Thomas was an active member of the Hobart VFW...

Apr 23, 2020

David Henry Wolske, age 65, of Lake Station, passed away Thursday, April 23, 2020. He was born on June 2, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Henry and Margaret Wolske. David proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army. He was the owner and operator of JD Trucking along with his brother, John. David...

Apr 20, 2020

Michael T. Lowell, age 41, of Puyallup, Washington, passed away at his home on April 20, 2020 with his beloved dog, Mabel, by his side.  His death was the result of an unknown enlarged heart combined with complications from a car accident. Michael is best described as the softest tough guy ever. His heart was huge in so many...

Apr 19, 2020

Theodore H. Padlo, age 59, of Portage, passed away Sunday, April 19, 2020.  He was born in Gary, Indiana on February 22, 1961 to the late Stanley and Janice (nee Clement) Padlo.  He was a member of the American Legion, Post 260 in Portage.

Ted is survived by his children, Justin Padlo, Melissa Padlo; grandson, Jay; siblings,...

Apr 19, 2020

Ann "Penny" Wojtanek, age 98, of Hobart and formerly of Chesterton passed away Sunday April 19, 2020 at the Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Penny was born January 24, 1922 in Beaverdale, Pennsylvania to the late John and Anna (Remak) Janosov. She was a homemaker, mother, grandmother and wife.  She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hobart...

Apr 16, 2020

Ricky D. Vajner, age 67, of Lake Station passed away April 16, 2020. Ricky was born May 20, 1952 in Gary, Indiana to the late Andrew and Sophie (Garcia) Vajner. Ricky was an Owner-Operator and former member of the United Teamsters Local Union #142. He was a former Lake Station Jaycee and a former Volunteer Firefighter in New Chicago....

Apr 14, 2020

Paul C. Viczai, Jr., age 75, of Hobart, passed away Tuesday, April 14, 2020. He was born on January 27, 1945 in Gary, Indiana to the late Paul and Alice Viczai. Paul was raised in Gary with two brothers and five sisters. He will always be remembered for his larger than life personality.

Paul is survived by...

Apr 14, 2020

WILLIAM JAY ALDRIN August 5th, 1954 - April 14th, 2020

age 65 a lifetime Hobart resident passed away April 14, 2020.  He was born on August 5, 1954 in Hammond, Indiana to the late Emil and Sadie Aldrin.  He graduated from Hobart High School and worked at Youngstown Sheet & Tube which ultimately became LTV Steel in...

Apr 13, 2020

Carroll R. Schneider, age 77, of Portage, passed away Monday, April 13, 2020. He was born on January 28, 1943 in Gary, Indiana where he was raised with five brothers and two sisters. He was an honorary Jaycee and a past president of DeMolay International. Carroll retired from Inland Steel where he worked as a crane operator. In his...

Apr 12, 2020

John C. Sawa, age 84, of Valparaiso, passed away Sunday, April 12, 2020 at home. He was born on September 14, 1935 in Gary, Indiana to the late Clemens and Jean Sawa. John retired in 1983 from US Steel where he worked as a Machinist Foreman. After he left US Steel, he worked for 26 years at ISA Manufacturing....

Apr 12, 2020

CASSANDRA KRISTINA MATIE, age 75, a long-time resident of Hobart, passed away Sunday, April 12, 2020.  She was born in Gary, IN on June 10, 1944 to the late Nicholas and Theophila Zulick.  Cassandra was a 1962 graduate of Hobart High School and while working at U.S. Steel she met her husband Stephan Matie and married on May 11,...

Apr 11, 2020

Richard E. Bullock, age 83, of Portage, passed away Saturday, April 11, 2020 at Vibra Hospital in Crown Point.  He was born in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky on December 5, 1936 to the late Mack Ellis and Josie Marie (nee France) Bullock.  Richard was a veteran of The United States Army, a member of the American Legion, Post 100 in...

Apr 11, 2020

Teresita T. Dirks, age 53, of Portage passed away Saturday April 11, 2020 at the Porter Regional Hospital in Valparaiso.  "Tess" was born October 17, 1966 to Jose and Tarcela (Tatoy) Batiancila in Barangay Sua Daram Samar Philippines. Tess was a sales clerk for several retail stores.  She was deeply loved and will be missed by her family.  She...

Apr 10, 2020

Harvey "Buddy" Lee Morse, Sr., age 83, of Lake Station passed away Friday, April 10, 2020.  He was born in Marion, Illinois on August 24, 1936 to the late Harv and Minda (nee Johnson) Morse.  He was a United States Marine veteran, Local 150 Operating Engineer and worked for the Sanitation Department of Lake Station before retiring in the...