obituaries

Jun 15, 2025

Dennis R Johnston, 70, passed away peacefully at home June 15 surrounded by family and friends after a brief battle with Esophageal Cancer. Denny was born on December 17, 1954, in Elkhart to George (Ramon) and Betty (Dryden) Johnston. He grew up in Lake Station (East Gary), graduating in 1973 from Edison High School where he was most proud...

Jun 13, 2025

Barbara A. Garrard Crowe, age 88, of Sun City, Arizona and formerly of Portage passed away June 13, 2025. She was born on January 5, 1937, in Oblong, Illinois to the late Ray and Reba Calvert. Barbara retired from Myers Elementary where she worked as a librarian. She was a talented seamstress and loved to quilt. When she was...

Jun 12, 2025

Alma Ruth Jadrnak

age 85 , passed away on June 5, 2025 in Hobart, Indiana. A  Froebel High School graduate. She attended Purdue University and worked as a registered nurse at St. Anthony Hospital in Crown Point, Indiana.

Alma is survived by her sister Elizabeth and her husband, Aniceto Camarena.

She was preceded...

Jun 10, 2025

Marilyn Jane Locke Finan Was born May 25, 1925 and passed away June 10, 2025 at her beloved home, known simply as "232" where she lived independently. She was 100 yrs and 17 days. Marilyn outlived nearly everyone from her generation! She was preceded in death by her parents, Anne and Elmo Locke, sister Marjorie Locke Kosnoff, her grandson...

Jun 10, 2025

Robert M. "Wayne" Croft, age 95 of Hobart passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at home. Wayne was born on September 12, 1929, in Rosiclare, IL to the late Earl and Ina (nee Threkled) Croft. He retired from Inland Steel. Wayne loved the St. Louis Cardinals and his grandchildren. He was a member of the Nazarene Church.

Jun 8, 2025

SUSAN CAROL WRABL, age 72, of Hobart, passed away Sunday, June 8, 2025 at St. Mary Medical Center. She was born on May 10, 1953 in Hobart. Susan was a Hobart High School graduate and worked as a medical transcriptionist for many years. She married Ewald "Butch" Wrabl at Augustana Lutheran Church, where she was a member. Susan was...

Jun 7, 2025

Preston O. Johnson

Age 74 of Lake Station passed away on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at his home.

He was born on November 19, 1950, in Albany, Ky to the late Dewey and Lily (nee Goodman) Johnson. On August 31, 1974, Preston married the love of his life, Kathy Johnson, in Portage, Indiana. He retired...

Jun 6, 2025

Thomas J. "Pops" Beyster

Age 78, of Valparaiso passed away Friday, June 6, 2025, at his home. He was born on November 6. 1946 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Joseph and Charlotte (nee Skomurski) Beyster. He was a 1965 Fenger High School graduate and proudly served his country in the United States Navy, where he worked...

Jun 6, 2025

Paul E. Sojka

Age 61 passed away Friday, June 6, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on July 17, 1963 in Hammond, Indiana to Carolyn (nee Fetsch) and the late Edmond Sojka. As a retired Local 41 laborer, he was a diligent worker who enjoyed gardening and took immense pride in caring for his...

Jun 6, 2025

James Rocha, age 53 of Lake Station passed away surrounded by loved ones on Friday, June 6, 2025. He was born on December 8, 1971, in Gary, Indiana to Jesus and Maria Rocha. He was a 1990 graduate of Edison High School and worked at Strack and Van Til, Key Markets and Central Markets for many years.  Jay liked...

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...