obituaries

Jul 23, 2019

James Leo Grogan, age 76, of Portage passed away Tuesday July 23, 2019 at the Addison Pointe Nursing center in Chesterton.  James was born June 19, 1943 in Gary, Indiana to the late Leo and Marie (Zelenak) Grogan.  He graduated from St. Luke's school in 1957 and Gary Emerson High School in 1961.  He began his career as a...

Jul 22, 2019

GAIL IRENE STOOKEY, age 84, of Hobart, passed away Monday, July 22, 2019.  She was born in Merrill, WI, on October 2, 1934, to the late Roy and Nina Bellin. Gail worked as an RN until she became a mother and homemaker.  She was known as a neighborhood mom to all her children's friends, and always supported her children...

Jul 22, 2019

DOROTHY A. KOLODZIEJ (Nee Pawlus), age 96, of Merrillville, passed away Monday, July 22, 2019.  She was born on April 26, 1923 in East Chicago to the late George and Mary Pawlus.  She was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Crown Point. Dorothy had a very special devotion to the Blessed Mother and was an active member...

Jul 22, 2019

Robert Allen Stefanovich age 69 a longtime Portage resident passed away Monday, July 22, 2019.  He was born on January 31, 1950 in Gary, Indiana to the late Andrew and Elizabeth Stefanovich.  Robert graduated from Lew Wallace High School, Class of 1968.  He was a Vietnam veteran serving in the U.S. Air Force.  He...

Jul 21, 2019

Matthew John Fitzpatrick, age 38 a longtime Lake Station resident passed away Sunday, July 21, 2019.  He was born on July 13, 1981 in Evergreen Park, Illinois.  Matthew worked as a Union Millwright for Local 1076.  He was also known as DJ Redmuff and would DJ at He Ain't Here Lounge in Lake Station.

He is survived...

Jul 21, 2019

Billy W Williams, age 74, of Portage, passed away Sunday, July 21, 2019 at 7:11am. He was born on May 18, 1945 in Dyersburg, Tennessee to the late Richard and Pearlene (nee Hawks) Williams. On March 25, 1968, in Dyersburg, Tennessee he married the love of his life Mary L. Fowler. Billy retired from Fewer Boiler Inc. in Chicago,...

Jul 21, 2019

Ellen Paulsen, age 95, of Portage passed away Sunday July 21, 2019.  She was born February 5, 1924 in Stavanger, Norway to Nils and Anna Marie Nilsen.  Ellen was a homemaker, mother and grandmother.  She was a devoted member of Hope Lutheran Church in Portage.  She was a member of the Sons of Norway, attended the Bonner Senior Center...

Jul 21, 2019

John Robert Hawkins, age 47, of Chesterton, passed away suddenly Sunday, July 21, 2019 at Addison Pointe where he resided. He was born on January 25, 1972 in Hammond, Indiana to Ginger and Darrell Hawkins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Darrell Hawkins. He leaves behind his mother, Ginger Hawkins; his sisters, Karen Hawkins, Jennifer...

Jul 20, 2019

MARY ANN SMITH, age 80, of Portage, passed away, Saturday, July 20, 2019.  She was born on March 31, 1939, to the late Michael I. and Mary Salopek.  Mary Ann graduated from Gary Edison in 1957 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Ball State in 1961.  She was employed by the Portage Schools for 33 years...

Jul 20, 2019

Wayne C. Johnson, age 88, of Leesburg, IN and a long-time Hobart and Wheeler, IN resident, passed away Saturday, July 20, 2019.  He was born on July 19, 1931 in Middletown, CT, the son of Joseph A. Johnson and Vera May (Clark) Johnson.   He was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School Class of 1949.  He proudly served his...

Jul 18, 2019

Thelma Rappatta, age 86 of Portage passed away Thursday, July 18, 2019 at Rittenhouse in Portage.  She was born on August 30, 1932 in Tomahawk, Wisconsin to the late Murel and Mildred (nee Blacker) Mitchell.  She was a member of Augustana Lutheran Church in Hobart.  Thelma will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend...

Jul 17, 2019

Patricia Ann Dooling, age 79, of Hobart passed away Wednesday July 17, 2019 at her home.  Patricia was born October 2, 1939 in Hobart, Indiana to the late James and Eleanore (Flood) Leonard.  She was a retired Bank Teller that worked for Gary National Bank through many name changes.  She was a devoted member of The Michigan Avenue United...

Jul 16, 2019

Ashly Lynn Adams, age 28, of Lake Station, passed away Tuesday, July 16, 2019. She was born on December 13, 1990 in Munster, Indiana. Ashly was currently employed as a manager at Dunkin Donuts, and had worked there for the past fourteen years.  She liked shopping, especially going to thrift stores. Above all, she loved her three children and...

Jul 15, 2019

JOYCE WILLIAMS, age 82, of Hobart, passed away Monday, July 15, 2019. She was born in Harlan, KY on January 15, 1937.  Joyce enjoyed shopping, cooking and visiting and talking with people.  She was a loving mother and grandmother and cherished the time she spent with her family.

Joyce is survived by her 2 children, Ron (Kathi)...

Jul 14, 2019

Larry D. Daily, age 73, of Hobart passed away Sunday July 14, 2019 at St Mary Medical Center in Hobart.  Larry was born August 1, 1945 in Gary, Indiana to the late Earl E. and Lillian (Daugherty) Daily.  Larry was a retired machinist that worked for US Steel.    Larry was a Vietnam Era Veteran of the US Marine Corps. ...

Jul 12, 2019

Glenda Adams, age 79, of Hobart, passed away Friday, July 12, 2019 in Merrillville, IN.  She was born on January 27, 1940 in Princeton, Kentucky to the late Carl and Addie Lee (nee Taylor) Rogers.  Glenda married the love of her life the late George Wesley Adams in Hopkinsville, Kentucky on March 9,1957. She was a member of Liverpool...

Jul 11, 2019

Vicky Lynn Withers (nee Amburgey) age 64, passed away, Thursday, July 11, 2019. She was born on October 11, 1954 in Ogden, Utah. Vicky was a kind soul who dedicated her life to caring for others. She lived one hell of a life. Although she never had a lot of money, she considered herself rich beyond her greatest dreams...

Jul 10, 2019

Thomas Anthony Pappas, Jr., 72 of Portage, Indiana passed away on July 10, 2019 surrounded by his family.  He was born to parents Thomas Sr. and Dorothy (Boyajian) Pappas, on April 2, 1947, in Gary, Indiana. Tom graduated from Emerson High School and worked at Bethlehem Steel as a metallurgist until his retirement.  He took pride in being a...

Jul 10, 2019

Lieutenant Jeremy S. Gibson, age 39 of Chesapeake, Virginia passed away Wednesday, July 10, 2019. Jeremy was born May 15, 1980 in Merrillville, Indiana to the late David Walter Gibson and Mary Etta (Kirk) Piper. Jeremy was a Nuclear LDO for the US Navy. Jeremy joined the Navy in 2005 and started his career as a Nuclear Machinist Mate...

Jul 9, 2019

JOAN C. EASTON, age 86, of Hobart, passed away Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at St. Mary Medical Center.  She was born in Gary, IN on November 9, 1932 to the late Edmond and Anna Jablonski.  Joan was a member of St. Bridget Church and worked as a seamstress for many years.  Joan adored her grandchildren and cherished the time...