obituaries

Apr 11, 2024

Karen L. Wyderski, age 74 of Portage, Indiana passed away Thursday April 11, 2024, at Northwest Health Porter in Valparaiso. Karen was born December 16, 1949, in Friendsville, Maryland to the late Junior Harvey and Gertrude (Hoffman) Teets. Karen was a graphics artist that worked for Gem Business Forms. She was much loved and will be deeply missed by...

Apr 10, 2024

Thomas P. O'Keefe

Age 76 passed away Wednesday, April 10,2024 at Advocate Christ Medical in Illinois. He was born October 25, 1947, in Gary, Indiana to the late James and Ruth (nee Massom) O'Keefe. In his younger years he loved to run and participated in many marathons. Thomas enjoyed reading and working with tools, he liked tinkering...

Apr 10, 2024

Delphine M. Ketchem (nee Stewart), age 87, a lifelong resident of Hobart passed away on April 10, 2024. She was born on June 19, 1936, in Gary Indiana to the late George Stewart and Patricia (nee Esse) Stewart.

She was married to the late Curtiss Ketchem for 56 years and raised two beautiful children together. Delphine and...

Apr 9, 2024

Catherine Zieba

Age 91, of Hobart, In., passed away Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at her residence as those were her final wishes. She was born on October 4, 1932, to the late Francis and Mary Staver. Catherine was a member of St. Bridget Church, Silver Bell Club Lodge 2365 of the PNA, and the American Legion Auxiliary...

Apr 6, 2024

Gail L. Koch (nee Ehrenfeld), age 76 of Hobart, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, April 6, 2024. She was born on November 14, 1947, in Gary, Indiana to Richard and Miriam Ehrenfeld. Gail was a 1966 graduate of Hobart High School. She worked as a real estate agent for Ginter Realty for 27 years. She formerly served...

Apr 5, 2024

Betty L. Carns, 97, of Portage passed away at home surrounded by her family on April 5, 2024.  She was born September 30, 1926, in Cuzco, Indiana to the late Levi and Olive Wineinger.

Betty married her love, Roy Carns, on June 6, 1946, and together they raised four children and spent 46 years side-by-side until his...

Apr 3, 2024

Walter Povlinski Jr.

Age 86, of Portage passed away April 3, 2024, at his home. He was born March 3,1938 to the late Walter Sr. and Ann (Romanov) Povlinski. In his youth he lived in Tolleston, a section of Gary and graduated from Tolleston High School in 1956. He enlisted in the United States Navy reserves in...

Apr 3, 2024

Robert Oscar Johnson "R.O."

Age 100, a lifelong resident of Lake and Porter County, passed away Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Rittenhouse Senior Living of Portage. He was born on a farm on April 23, 1923, in Jasper Co. to the late John Henry and Versa P. (nee Watson) Johnson. He proudly served his country in the...

Apr 3, 2024

Frederick Albin Swantko "Dad the Hammer"

Age 78, of Hobart passed away April 3, 2024, at home surrounded by his family. He was born on February 24,1946, in East Chicago, IN to the late Albin and Margaret (nee Gyemont) Swantko. He was a 1965 Hammond High School graduate. Frederick married the love of his life Theresa Pietrzak...

Apr 2, 2024

Connie L. Wirick (nee Thompson), age 68 of Portage passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. She was born on March 21, 1956, in Lake City, Tennessee to the late Clyde and Betty Thompson. She was a 1974 graduate of River Forest High School. She liked to collect precious moments and angels. In her free time, she enjoyed...

Apr 2, 2024

Abby (Combs) Creech Patton, 86, of Valparaiso, IN, passed away peacefully at home April 2nd, 2024.

She was born in Emmalena, Kentucky on January 13th, 1938 to Robert and Liddie (Gayheart) Combs. Along with her parents and siblings, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Patton, on January 16th, 2024.

Abby enjoyed spending...

Apr 2, 2024

Carol J. Riise, age 85, of Hobart passed away Tuesday April 2, 2024, at Northwest Health, Porter in Valparaiso, Indiana. Carol was born December 8, 1938, in La Porte, Indiana to the late George and Dorthy (Kistler) Spencer. She was a Floral Designer that retired from Kellen's Florist in Hobart. Carol was an avid Purdue Fan, she loved sports...

Apr 2, 2024

Liduvina Gonzalez (Ventura), age 96, of Lake Station passed away Tuesday April 2, 2024. She was born on January 31, 1928, to the late Alberto and Lile Ventura in Enid, Oklahoma. Liduvina married the late Amelio Sr. in 1952 and spent 45 loving years together raising their seven children. She earned her associate degree in education and worked as...

Mar 31, 2024

Timothy Dickey

Age 76, of Portage passed away on Sunday, March 31, 2024, at Northwest Health in Portage. He was born on June 7,1947 to the late Dyrck and Jane (nee Strole) Dickey in Gary, Indiana. Timothy was a 1965 Hobart High School graduate and he retired from U.S. Steel where he worked as a roll grinder....

Mar 31, 2024

Harry E. Dickson, Jr. age 76, of Valparaiso passed away Sunday, March 31, 2024. He was born on December 24, 1947, in Gary, Indiana to the late Harry and Evelyn Dickson. Harry graduated from River Forest High School in 1966 and proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps. He owned and operated Dickson and Associates Insurance...

Mar 31, 2024

Herminio "Sam" Santana, 77, of Knox, formerly Portage, went home to the Lord surrounded by his family in his home on Sunday, March 31, 2024.  He was born February 17, 1947, in Cidra, Puerto Rico to the late Epifanio and Ignacia (Valdez) Santana.

Sam's parents moved their family from Puerto Rico to the United States in 1957.  ...

Mar 30, 2024

John Konicki, age 81 of Knox passed away Saturday, March 30, 2024. He was born on January 3, 1943, in Gary, Indiana. John was a 1961 graduate of Hobart High School and went to work for US Steel as a Roller. After retirement he moved to his farm in Knox where he was an avid hunter and enjoyed many...

Mar 26, 2024

Mary L Baltrushaitis, age 91, of Hobart passed away Tuesday March 26, 2024, in the Brentwood Assisted Living Center in Hobart. Mary was born to the late John and Catherine (Barnes) Dobrowolsky on October 2, 1932, in Lisbon, Ohio. She was very active in Assumption BVM Church Parish serving in the choir and as a Cantor, she volunteered for...

Mar 26, 2024

Timothy Wade Reyna, age 61, of Portage passed away Tuesday March 26, at the VNA Hospice Center in Valparaiso. Timothy was born December 12, 1962, in Chicago, IL to the late Barney and Violet (Greenwald) Reyna. Timothy retired from the First Presbyterian Church of Kouts as Pastor. He was a loving husband and father. He was a member of...

Mar 25, 2024

Imelda D. "Vergie" Cadiente Age 67, of Portage, Indiana, passed away on March 25, 2024, at her home. She was born in Bacarra Ilocos Norte, Philippines to the late Isabello and Susanna Daguio. She retired from Dunkin Donuts where she worked as an ice cream cake designer. She enjoyed reading, cooking, playing Mahjong, and watching Korean drama, but most...