obituaries

Nov 18, 2017

Michael W. Hester, age 62, of Michigan City, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Franciscan Alliance Hospice in Michigan City.  He was born in Dexter Stoddard, Co. Missouri on April 29, 1955 to the late William "Junior" and Emma Loretta (nee Mays) Hester. On October 1, 1977 Michael married the love of his life Cindy Nekvasil in...

Nov 17, 2017

Marsha Ann Reder (nee Kornas), age 68, of Hobart, passed away Friday, November 17, 2017 at St. Mary Medical Center. She was born on February 25, 1949 in Hammond, Indiana to the late Raymond and Sophie Kornas. On August 28, 1972 in Crown Point, Indiana, she married the love of her life, Malcholm Reder. In her free time, Marsha...

Nov 17, 2017

Shirley Ann Miller (nee Cowsert) age 74, a longtime Portage resident passed away Friday, November 17, 2017.  She was born on May 20, 1943 in Harrisburg, Illinois to the late Charles and Ellen Irene Cowsert.  She retired from Willowcreek Middle School where she had worked as a Custodian. Shirley was an active member of Grace Church of the Nazarene...

Nov 17, 2017

Imogene Benedyk (Nee LaCoss), age 88 of Hobart passed away Friday, November 17, 2017.  She was born on October 12, 1929 in Reyno, Arkansas to the late Harry and Molinda LaCoss.  She retired from Bank One in 1995 where she had worked in the Education Loan Department. Imogene was the Matriarch of the Portage Church of God of Prophecy...

Nov 15, 2017

Jose Nelson Santana, age 61 of Merrillville and formerly of East Chicago passed away Wednesday, November 15, 2017.  He was born on February 24, 1956 in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.  He served in the U.S.  Army and was a dedicated owner of Priceless Memories Studios .   Nelson was a lover of sports, antique cars, music, dancing, enjoying life, and spending...

Nov 13, 2017

WILLIAM L. "BILL" WOODS, age 83, of Hobart, passed away Monday, November 13, 2017 while surrounded by his loving family.  He was born in Hobart on February 18, 1934 to the late Robert and Fleeta Woods.  Bill was a 1953 graduate of Hobart High School and then attended the College of the Pacific in Stockton, CA on a basketball...

Nov 12, 2017

Nellie M. Snider, age 94, of Lake Station passed away Sunday, November 12, 2017 at St. Mary Medical Center.  She was born December 13, 1922 in Willow Hill, Illinois to the late Issac and Hazel (nee Eaton) Loving.  She will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother and friend.

Nellie is survived by...

Nov 12, 2017

Ray W. "Daddy Bud" Wiggins, age 82, of Hobart passed away Sunday November 12, 2017.  Ray was born January 10, 1935 in Smithland, Kentucky to the late Raymond and Ida (Davenport) Wiggins.  He was a steelworker that retired from US Steel.  "Daddy Bud" was a super papa and always made video tapes of programs for people to share.

Nov 12, 2017

Martha A. Reich (nee Schellinger) age 95, of Mount Pleasant, TN and formerly of Valparaiso, passed away Sunday, November 12, 2017. She was born on September 2, 1922, in Valparaiso, Indiana to the late Daniel and Mary Schellinger. On September 25, 1941, she married Edward Reich who preceded her in death in 1978. Martha was a member of Our...

Nov 11, 2017

Phyllis K. Cochran, age 79, of Valparaiso passed away Saturday, November 11, 2017 at St. Mary Medical Center surrounded by her loving family.  She was born June 15, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Phillip and Mildred (nee Anderson) Sharrar. Phyllis was the owner and president of Artistic Cleaners in Lake Station, Indiana.  She will be remembered as...

Nov 10, 2017

Marlene J. Popp (nee Hamann), age 84, of Hobart passed away Friday, November 10, 2017 at St. Mary Medical Center.  She was born June 16, 1933 in Hobart, Indiana to the late Elmer and Frieda Hamann.  She will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend.

Marlene is survived by her son, Douglas (Janet)...

Nov 10, 2017

Mary Jane Moore, age 94, of Hobart passed away Friday night November 10, 2017 in her home with her family at her side.  Mary was born December 3, 1922 in Schneider, Indiana to the late Archie Dean and Iva Floy (Thurston) McCoy.  Mary Jane and her husband Raymond Moore were the owners and operators of Ray's Lanes and Ray's...

Nov 10, 2017

Lois Faye Anderson (nee Blanton), age 84, of Portage, passed away Friday, November 10, 2017 at Golden Living Center. She was born on July 12, 1933 in Gibbs, Kentucky to the late Matt and Dolly Blanton. On January 22, 1949, she married the love of her life, James B. Anderson. Lois was a devoted member of Bible Baptist Church...

Nov 10, 2017

Fred Eugene McShane, age 85 of Valparaiso passed away Friday, November 10, 2017.  He was born on December 16, 1931 in Melcher, Iowa to the late Everette and Jessie McShane.  Fred was a fully decorated U.S. Army Veteran serving his country in the Korean War.  He was awarded the Bronze Star and more than one purple heart.  Fred was...

Nov 9, 2017

William Sheridan "Bill" Martin, age 89, of Portage passed away Thursday, November 9, 2017 at VNA Hospice Center in Valparaiso. He was born on October 1, 1928 in Gary, Indiana to the late George Dewey and Ethel Mae (Kinney) Martin. Bill graduated from Horace Mann High School and entered an apprenticeship at US Steel. He served his country in...

Nov 8, 2017

STEVEN D. DICKEY, age 67, of Hebron, and formerly of Miller, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 08, 2017.  He was born on August 8, 1950 to the late Philip and Marjorie Dickey.  Steve worked as an auto body repairman at Town and City Motors and loved restoring classic cars in his free time.  He attended St. Helen Catholic...

Nov 7, 2017

Robin Joy Meister, age 61, of Portage Passed away Tuesday November 7, 2017.  Robin was born August 21, 1956 in Chicago, Illinois to Robert and Peggy (Burns) Weiland.  Robin was a homemaker and also tended bar for the Riverdale, Illinois American Legion Post # 303.

Robin is survived by her father, Robert Weiland of Portage; her brother,...

Nov 7, 2017

Carmen E. Cruz, age 88, of Portage, passed away Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at the Golden Living Facility in Valparaiso.  She was born in Puerto Rico on May 28, 1929 to the late Felipe and Christina (nee Sosa) Fontanez.  She worked as a CNA for South Shore Hospital in Chicago and as a seamstress at Jansen in Gary.

Nov 6, 2017

Lorraine D. (nee Sonntag) Kietzman, age 94, of Hobart, passed away on Monday, November 6, 2017.  She was born in Gary, Indiana on September 25, 1923 to the late Ernest and Sara (nee Judge) Sonntag.  She loved fishing and Disney World and adored spending time with her family.

Lorraine is survived by sons, David (Elizabeth) Kietzman, Charles...

Nov 3, 2017

Lillie P. Bruner

Age 88, passed away Friday, November 3, 2017 at VNA Hospice in Valparaiso. A longtime resident of Portage, she retired in 1987 from the Packaging Corp of Griffith after 23 years. Lillie was born in Knox County, Kentucky on October 24, 1929 to the late James and Velva (nee Asher) Johnson. She will be...