obituaries

Jun 3, 2025

Constance "Connie" Ohrn (nee Whitfield) Age 63 of Gary, Indiana passed away Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born on September 25, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois to the late William and Eileen (nee Holl) Whitfield. She deeply loved her children and found immense happiness in spending time with her daughter, sons,...

Jun 2, 2025

Albert C. Stoddard, age 91 of Portage, passed away Monday, June 2, 2025. He was born on September 10, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Albert and Gladys Stoddard. He served his country proudly in the United States Army. On November 25, 1978, he married Tonianne Carney in Gary, Indiana. He retired from Levin Tire where he worked...

Jun 1, 2025

Loyce K. Rigdon (Wilkins), age 83 of DeMotte, passed away Sunday, June 1, 2025, at home. She was born on November 23, 1941, in Huntsville, Arkansas to the late George and Grace Wilkins. She retired from Humiston Keeling where she worked in the warehouse. On June 1, 1974, she married Leo Rigdon in Valparaiso.

She is survived...

Jun 1, 2025

Vilean Bradley Age 94, a Portage resident passed away Sunday, June 1, 2025, at Brookdale Senior Living. She was born on July 26, 1930, in Kentucky to the late Charles and Lucy Abdon. She spent her childhood on a tobacco farm, the youngest of seven children. As a youth, she lent a hand to her mother and father at...

May 31, 2025

Barbara Jean Smith

Age 63, a Lake Station resident passed away peacefully at her home. She was born on November 18, 1961, in Gary, Indiana to the late Ernest and Annabelle (nee Cafin) Patten. She married the love of her life James Franklin Smith on October 19, 1985, in Portage, IN. Barbara was a compassionate person, loving,...

May 31, 2025

In Loving Memory of a Life Well-Lived

Audra Lee Hutcheson Watson 1928-2025

Audra Lee Hutcheson Watson, age 96 of Hobart, Indiana passed away Saturday, May 31, 2025, surrounded by her family. With deep love and enduring gratitude, we celebrate the life of a remarkable woman who touched countless lives with her kindness, her strength, and...

May 27, 2025

Isabel Perez (Quinones-Santos),

age 82 passed away Tuesday, May 27, 2025. She was born on July 14, 1942, in Penuelas, Puerto Rico to Luis and America Santos Quinones (both preceded her in death). As the oldest of five children, she was loving, protective and very caring of family.  She attended Barber college in Chicago in 1965, becoming...

May 27, 2025

Donald Bradbury

Age 78 of Michigan City, formerly of Portage, passed away Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Franciscan Health in Michigan City. He was born on May 6, 1947, in East Chicago, Indiana to the late Edward and Myrtle Bradbury. Donald proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and was a...

May 26, 2025

Anita (Skolak) Sakes, age 82, of Hobart, Indiana passed away on Monday, May 26, 2025 surrounded by her family with her three daughters by her side. She is survived by her daughters and their families: Christine and William (Boo) McCollum and daughter Marissa Anita of Hobart; Stephanie and Skip Cheesman and son Reagan of Greenwood, IN; and Roxanne and...

May 26, 2025

DAVID LEE HERRERA, age 78, of Hobart, passed away Monday, May 26, 2025. He was born on September 9, 1946, in Gary, Indiana to the late John, Sr. and Mildred Herrera. David graduated from Lew Wallace High School and went on to proudly serve in the US Army during Vietnam. He married the love of his life, Vickie Sue...

May 25, 2025

Troy A. Gardow, age 62 of Valparaiso passed away Sunday, May 25, 2025. He was born on March 21, 1963, in East Chicago, IN to the late Richard and Corazon Gardow. Troy worked at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. He enjoyed camping and collecting beer signs. Troy was a great father and a caring uncle. His greatest joy...

May 23, 2025

Richard Shane Smith

July 26, 1954 – May 23, 2025

Richard Shane Smith, age 70, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on July 26, 1954, in Ardmore, Oklahoma, but raised on the shores of Lake Michigan in Miller, Indiana. Richard carried a deep love for his...

May 23, 2025

Jennifer Margaret Garza, age 63, of Hobart passed away Friday May 23, 2025. She was born on August 31, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois to the late William and Margaret (Klimas) Drury.

She retired from Northwest Health Porter, where she worked as a dedicated courier. She had a deep love for nature and found peace walking and driving...

May 22, 2025

Tina "Beaners" Thomas, age 58, of Lake Station passed away Thursday, May 22, 2025, at St. Mary Medical Center. She was born February 13, 1967, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Paul and Barbara (Saxinger) Thomas II. Tina was a chef for 33 years at Pucci Restaurant in Chicago, Illinois and after Pucci closed she worked as a manager...

May 21, 2025

Laura Jean Chylla, age 58, of Michigan City passed away Wednesday May 21, 2025, at the Center for Hospice Care in Mishawaka, Indiana. She was born July 3, 1966, in Portage, Indiana to the late William and Alice Mae (Kanoff) Clowers. Laura was a cookie maker with Hearthside Food Solutions. She was a loving grandmother, mother, and wife. She...

May 14, 2025

Juanita "NiNi (nee Stanley) Hughes

Age 83 of Valparaiso passed away Wednesday, May 14, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on November 27, 1941, in Caruthersville, Missouri to the late Milton and Modene Mary (nee Crowder) Stanley. Her family will forever cherish the memories of her exceptional love and devotion as a mother and...

May 14, 2025

Frances Kathryn Mason

Age 93, of Hobart passed away Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at The Waters of Hobart. She was born on June 29, 1931, in Gary, Indiana to the late Ovie B. and Clara (nee Heubel) Swim. She married the love of her life Thomas F. Mason on December 18, 1947, in Gary, Indiana, her husband...

May 13, 2025

Tamara Gail Hiestand   Age 55, of Portage, passed away Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at St. Mary's Medical Center. She was born in Gary, Indiana on July 24, 1969, to Ivan G. and Pamela Hiestand (née Blatz).

Tammy had a great sense of humor, and everyone loved to be around her. She was a skilled artist and enjoyed...

May 13, 2025

Patricia May Dahlgren (nee Charnetzky), age 88 of Portage passed away Tuesday, May 13, 2025.  She was born on January 27, 1937 in  Chicago, Illinois to the late Edgar and Edna Charnetzky.  She was a former member of the Garyton Covenant Church in Portage.

She is survived by one son, Dale E. (Dee) Dahlgren of Portage, IN;  ...

May 13, 2025

Perry Q. "BONES" Bonner

Age 96 a lifetime resident of Hobart, died on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at his home. He was born on October 7, 1928, in Hammond, Indiana to the late Basil and B. Madeline (nee Thompson) Bonner. He was a 1947 Hobart High School graduate and proudly served his country in the United States...