obituaries

Nov 27, 2024

John A. Vayo II, age 62 of Lake Station passed away Wednesday, November 27, 2024.  He was born on June 16, 1962 in Warrick, Rhode Island.  John worked as a Machine Operator at Merit Steel.  He loved hunting and fishing.

John is survived by his wife of over 40 years, Lori Vayo (nee Biron) of Lake Station,...

Nov 26, 2024

Margaret E. Edwards (nee Boatright), age 95 of Portage passed away Tuesday, November 26, 2024. She was born on September 28, 1929, in Lynnville, Tennessee to the late Algie and Hattie Mae Boatright. On September 29, 1950, she married Stanley Edwards in Gary, Indiana. Margaret worked as a bookkeeper at various auto dealerships. She was a member of Kappa...

Nov 23, 2024

Bruce Earl Wilkinson, age 80 of Hobart passed away Saturday, November 23, 2024.  He was born November 10, 1944. He was the only child of Ernest Earl Wilkinson and Dorothy June Wilcox Wilkinson.

Bruce graduated from Hobart High School class of 1963. After graduation he started working at Sears until 1968 when he joined the Hobart Fire...

Nov 22, 2024

Melissa M. Rhein, age 40 of LaPorte and formerly of Portage passed away Friday, November 22, 2024. She was born on December 30, 1983, in Palos Heights, Illinois to Timothy and Linda Rhein. She was a 2002 graduate of Portage High School. She worked in customer service and enjoyed fishing. Her greatest joy in life was her family and...

Nov 19, 2024

Agnes (nee Horvath) Wozniak

Age 85 passed away Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the Life Care Center in Michigan City. Agnes was born on March 7, 1939, Lynch, Kentucky to the late Louis and Susan (nee Kiss) Horvath. Agnes enjoyed various leisure activities, including bird watching, reading, baking, gardening and enjoying the company of cats.

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Nov 17, 2024

With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Maureen Wendrickx, who departed this life in Portage, Indiana on November 17, 2024, leaving an irreplaceable void in her family's hearts.

Survived by: Husband Larry "Joe" Wendrickx, two children Lori Oates and Kristie (Doug) Powell who she loved dearly. Three grandchildren that were the loves of her life: Sean...

Nov 16, 2024

Dr. Kenneth A. Black, M.D., age 77, a 40-year resident of Valparaiso passed away Saturday, November 16, 2024 at the VNA Hospice Center.  He was born on October 11, 1947, in Gary, Indiana to the late Richard and Betty Black.  Ken grew up in Hobart and graduated from Hobart High School in 1965.   After high school, Ken attended Indiana...

Nov 13, 2024

Ralph Mose Vandergriff

10/03/1940 – 11/13/2024

Passed away peacefully while in the care of the Visiting Nurses Association of Valparaiso. He lived a long, full life on his own terms and made many good friends along the way. As an avid gardener he provided a steady supply of peppers and tomatoes to friends and neighbors....

Nov 12, 2024

Chester J. "Butch" Ochwat, age 75, of Portage passed away Wednesday November 12, 2024, at St Mary Medical Center in Hobart, Indiana. Butch was born April 7, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Chester and Rose (Slowikowski) Ochwat. Butch was a retired Machinist who retired from Solo Cup, Inc. He enjoyed fishing, loved nature and watching deer.

Nov 11, 2024

Deanna L. Jones-Walker, age 61 of Gary passed away Monday, November 11, 2024.  She was born on March 27,1963 in Gary, Indiana.  She was a longtime Gary resident.

Deanna is survived by her husband, Benjamin Strunk of Gary, IN; three children, Jason Jones of Lake Station, IN,  Heather Campbell of Madisonville, KY, Anita (Tyler) Walker of Madisonville,...

Nov 11, 2024

JOAN T. YURKO, age 86, of Hobart, passed away Monday, November 11, 2024. She was born on May 19, 1938 to the late Frank and Anne Benka. Joan worked for US Steel as a computer programmer for many years. She was a member of the Protection of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church. Joan enjoyed watching and playing sports, especially...

Nov 9, 2024

Rosetta Ann Laas, age 79, of Lake Station passed away surrounded by her loving family on Saturday November 9, 2024. She was born December 15,1944 in Effingham, Illinois to the late Harold and Frances (Ashenbremer) Harder. Rosetta was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and dear friend. She enjoyed bowling, feeding her birds, and her Kritters. She lived for...

Nov 8, 2024

Nestor "Jimmy" Singh, 62, of Valparaiso, IN passed away surrounded by loved ones on November 8, 2024.

Nestor, affectionately known as Jimmy, was born on October 6, 1962 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. He relocated to Puerto Rico, where he met and married Theresa Gomez, with whom he shares daughters, Denise and Theresa. Nestor and...

Nov 7, 2024

Arlene E. Lee Age 93, passed away on November 7, 2024, at Great Lake healthcare center in Dyer. She was born on May 31, 1931, in Arpin, Wisconsin to the late Ivan and Julia (nee Fry) Hause. Arlene, in her vibrant younger years, nurtured three children and thrived in farming and milking cows, cultivating expansive vegetable gardens in Pittsville,...

Nov 7, 2024

Kathleen J. Needs, age 78, passed away Thursday, November 7,2024. She was born on May 7, 1946, in Gary, Indiana to the late Aloysius F. and Laverne Ceclia (nee Lemanski) Ryba. Kathleen was a lifelong Portage resident, a devout Catholic and a member of Nativity of Our Savior Church.

Kathleen is survived by her two daughters, Valerie...

Nov 6, 2024

Joan Frances Kray (nee Szczepaniak) beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away at the age of 92 on Wednesday November 6, 2024. She was born on September 22, 1932, in Gary, Indiana to the late Frank and Sophie Szczepaniak. On June 9,1951, she married Edward Kray at St. Hedwig Church in Gary. Together they raised three daughters....

Nov 5, 2024

Barbara F. Thornton (nee Mow), age 92 of Portage passed away with family by her side on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. She was born on August 16, 1932, to the late Robert and Katherine Mow. On September 20, 1986, she married the love of her life, Ben Thornton, in Merrillville, Indiana.

She is survived by her loving...

Nov 5, 2024

Noreen Hughes, age 56, of Portage passed away Tuesday November 5, 2024, at the University of Chicago Hospitals. She was born April 3, 1968, in Staten Island, NY to the late Richard and Barbara Muth. Noreen was a Homemaker, wife, mother, and grandmother. She will be missed deeply by her family.

Noreen is survived by her husband,...

Nov 3, 2024

DOROTHY R. ZIMMER, age 68, of New Chicago, passed away Sunday, November 3, 2024. Dorothy was born in Gary on September 22, 1956. She was a graduate of River Forest High School and went on to earn a degree in Computer Science from Purdue Calumet.  After she spent 20 years at Prudential, she went on to be a self-employed...

Nov 3, 2024

James Donald "Don" Lawrence

Age 63, of Knox, formerly of Portage, IN. passed away at his home surrounded by family. He was born on October 22, 1961, in Gary, Indiana to Ellen (nee Babb) and the late James Lawrence. Don retired from Sears, where he worked as a skilled mechanic, he had a deep affection for cars,...