obituaries

Mar 6, 2018

Kenneth J. Nowak, age 70, of Hebron, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 06, 2018 in Downers Grove, IL.  He was born in Gary, Indiana on August 24, 1947 to the late Stanley and Adela (nee Bieniek) Nowak.  He received sacraments and assisted as an altar server at Assumption BVM Catholic Church in New Chicago.  Ken was an athlete...

Mar 5, 2018

Susan Ann Mitchell, age 53, of Portage passed away Monday March 5, 2018 at her home with her family at her side.  She was born December 10, 1964 in Gary, Indiana to the late Bruce and Margaret (Divich) Hartford.  Susan worked as a hair stylist for Hair Express for many years before becoming a driver of Bus #77 for...

Mar 5, 2018

Edward K. Fietz

Age 94, of Portage, passed away Monday, March 5, 2018 at Porter Regional Hospital in Valparaiso. Edward was born on August 2, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois to the late August "Gus" and Sarah (nee Brown) Fietz. Edward proudly served his country in the United States Army during World War II. He will be remembered...

Mar 4, 2018

Thomas E. Rogers Sr.

Age 88, of Hobart, Indiana passed away Sunday, March 4, 2018 at Saint Mary's Medical Center.  Thomas was born August 8, 1929 in Gary, Indiana to the late Earl and Esther Rogers. On April 23, 1974 Thomas married the love of his life Ruth E. Churchill. He proudly served his country in the...

Mar 3, 2018

Joyce M. Milligan (nee Harris), age 73, of Valparaiso, passed away Saturday, March 3, 2018.  She was born in Kimmins, Tennessee December 25, 1944.  She loved her knick knacks, dogs, Facebook and especially planting flowers.

Joyce is survived by her husband of 55 years, Louis Milligan; daughters, Lisa (Sig) Berg, Denise Dahlin, Brenda (Travis) Moreland; sons, Robert...

Mar 3, 2018

Dorothy P. Gibson, age 80, of Portage, passed away Saturday, March 3, 2018.  She was born in Middlesboro, Kentucky on October 1, 1937 to the late Bud and Susie (nee Collins) Partin.

Dorothy is survived by daughters, Sheryl (Rick) Bull, Jennifer (Ron) Bysiek; granddaughter, Ariel Bysiek; and sisters, Thelma Gibson, Imojean Partin, Maxine Sullivan, Betty Whistler.

Feb 28, 2018

GRACEMARY A. WHITE, age 76, of Portage, passed away Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at Miller's Merry Manor. She was born on September 30, 1941 in Gary, Indiana. She grew up in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Gracemary graduated as an honor student from Lew Wallace High School. She loved playing BINGO in Lake Station , Portage, Hobart, and South Haven and...

Feb 27, 2018

Valeria Sleeper (nee Mayes), age 77, of Hobart, passed away at home on Tuesday, February 27, 2018.  She was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 6, 1940 to the late William Mayes and Anna Smith.  She was a longtime member of the Michigan Avenue Methodist Church in Hobart.

Valeria is survived by daughter, Cheryl Murdock; son, Michael...

Feb 26, 2018

Michael Napier, age 48, of Portage, Indiana and formerly of Hazard, Kentucky passed away Monday February 26, 2018 at his residence.  Michael was born March 15, 1969 in Hazard, KY.  He was a truck driver working for CWS Dedicated Services.  Michael was a loving father, son and brother. He loved fishing and had an amazing sense of humor.

Feb 25, 2018

James Grant Busch, age 63, of Lake Station passed away unexpectedly in Advocate Christ Hospital on Sunday February 25, 2018.  James was born January 8, 1955 in Gary, Indiana to the late Grant K. and Dorothy E. (Funke) Busch.  James was a Christian that loved his Lord.  He graduated from Edison High School, IUN and the Indiana Police Academy.  ...

Feb 24, 2018

John W Marcrom, age 87, of Lake Station, passed away Saturday, February 24, 2018 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on October 11, 1930 in Coffee Co., Tennessee to the late Gordon and Orval Marcrom. He married the love of his life, Ann on March 22, 1964 in East Gary. John was retired from...

Feb 21, 2018

Diana M. Tirado (Tomista), age 47, passed away on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Diana was born in Gary, Indiana on February 27, 1970 to Irene Pineda and Thomas A. Sosa. Diana attended William A. Wirt High School and graduated in 1988. She held many different job positions for several different casinos in East Chicago, Indiana....

Feb 19, 2018

GERARDO (Gerry) VIEITEZ died peacefully at home in Gardner, IL on February 19, 2018. Gerry was born in Soutelo de Montes, Spain, on August 6, 1932, to Manuel Vieitez Vasquez and Elvira Firvida Gonzalez. He came to the United States when he was 16 years old and started working at U.S. Steel until he was drafted to the Korean...

Feb 18, 2018

Marilyn Ann Holmes (nee Hanus), age 83, of Lakes of the Four Seasons, passed away February 18, 2018. She was born on September 23, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Francis and Matilda Hanus. On September 18, 1954, she married the love of her life, Harold W. Holmes. In 1977, they moved to Lakes of the Four Seasons. ...

Feb 16, 2018

Edith L. Sonntag (nee Ogden), age 95 of Hobart passed away Friday, February 16, 2018.  She was born on September 9, 1922 in Brocton, Illinois to the late Alva and Cora Ogden. She is survived by her friend, Lola Wells, and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Sonntag, two brothers, Floyd and...

Feb 16, 2018

MYRTLE RUTH WALK, age 85, of Lake Station, passed away February 16, 2018.  She was born in Bolivar, TN on January 24, 1933 to the late Floyd John and Bessie Louise Hazlegrove.  Myrtle worked for 29 years as a head cashier and bookkeeper for the Key Markets (Thrifty Mart).  She was a member of United Food Workers.  Myrtle enjoyed...

Feb 13, 2018

Ronald G. Gilkey, age 54, of Lake Station, passed away Tuesday, February 13, 2018 in hospice care.  He was born in Boulder, Colorado on May 22, 1963 to Ronald and Patricia (nee Stratton) Gilkey.

Ronnie is survived by his loving mother and step-father, Patricia and James Hann; son, Niko (Sammi) Gilkey; brother, Shane (Cyndi) Skees; sister, Donna...

Feb 11, 2018

Chester L. King, age 95, of Portage, passed away at home on Sunday, February 11, 2018.  He was born in Dowling, South Dakota on April 13, 1922 to the late Ralph and Nellie (nee Payne) King.  Chester was a Local 1005 Carpenter since 1946 until he retired, and then became a member of the Retirees Carpenter's Club.  He enjoyed...

Feb 10, 2018

EVA MARY DELMAGE UDICK, Portage, IN passed away Feb 10, 2018. She was born on November 29, 1921 to William Edward Delmage and Mary Matilda Lamb Delmage. Eva worked for over 35 years at the Toll Road/Howard Johnson's Restaurant. She was active as a Board Member of the Portage Historical Society and for many years, appeared as Mrs. Claus...

Feb 9, 2018

John Wayne McDaniel, Sr. died in the VNA Hospice Center in Valparaiso, Indiana on February 9, 2018 following an extended illness.  John was cared for by the love of his life, Kim Moore McDaniel for the last one and a half years.

He was the owner of J&S Asphalt Company in Portage, Indiana and a snowplowing business....