obituaries

Nov 22, 2023

Glenn Frank Embry, age 67 of Portage, passed away Wednesday, November 22, 2023. He was born on January 2, 1956, in Jefferson, Kentucky to the late Glendow Embry and Mary Lou Murphy. Glenn retired from Turnak Roofing. He loved horses and enjoyed riding his motorcycle. When his children were younger, he coached their football and softball teams. He will...

Nov 22, 2023

Roy Bradford Sipich, age 73, of Portage passed away Wednesday November 22, 2023, at the Valparaiso Care and Rehabilitation Center following an extended illness. Roy was born November 19, 1950, in Gary, Indiana to the late George and Electra (Bradford) Sipich. After retiring from US Steel with thirty-three and a half years of service, he worked an additional ten...

Nov 22, 2023

Samantha "Sammi" Sloma, age 14 of Portage passed away Wednesday, November 22, 2023.  She was born on December 1, 2008 in Mishawaka, Indiana.  Sammi was on Champion Force Athletics Cheer Team, she attended Taekwondo classes at Rising Star Taekwondo, and she enjoyed bowling at Hobart Lanes.  Sammi loved her dog and cat and also had a love for sloths....

Nov 18, 2023

Stephan A. Puskac, 37, of North Judson, formerly of Lake Station, passed away on November 18, 2023. Stephan was highly active in participating with training of his beloved dutch shepherds Segen, Makeda, and Frayja, along with many others.

Stephan was born in Valparaiso, IN in 1986 to Peggy (Brown) Rey and the late Stephen Puskac. Stephan was...

Nov 18, 2023

Guadalupe "Lupe" L. Trevino-Houchin, age 72, of Valparaiso passed away Saturday, November 18, 2023, in St Mary Medical Center in Hobart. Lupe was born June 21, 1951, in Laredo, Texas to Ruben and Olivia (Ledezma) Trevino. She retired from Inland Steel as a Personnel Clerk. Everyone who knew Lupe knew she loved her family fiercely. Family was and always...

Nov 17, 2023

Reba A. Sharp Age 67, of Portage passed away on November 17,2023. She was born in Conway, Arkansas to the late Thomas and Mary N. (nee Maynard) Sharp. She graduated Portage High School in 1973 and was a member of the JR ROTC program.  Reba enjoyed living in Jacksonville, Florida and traveling to the Gulf of Mexico, but most...

Nov 17, 2023

Efrain Jimenez

Age 86 passed away Friday, November 17,2023 at his home. He was born on May 26, 1937, in Puerto Rico to the late Modesto and Julia (nee Benitez) Jimenez. Efrain retired from US Steel, where he worked for over 35 years. On May 26, 1962, he married the love of his life Esperanza Velez in...

Nov 15, 2023

Milo Vernon Rodgers, age 73, of Portage passed away in his home Wednesday November 15, 2023, unexpectedly. Milo was born October 18, 1950, in Winamac to the late Howard W. and Juanita (Archer) Rodgers. Milo retired from ISA (Insulation Specialties of America) in Wanatah, Indiana. Milo told his family and friends that he resided on Beer Boulevard and lived...

Nov 14, 2023

Ronald Sadelack, age 75 a longtime Hobart resident passed away Tuesday, November 14, 2023. He was born on August 27, 1948 in East Gary, Indiana to the late Edward and Mildred Sadelack. He graduated from Hobart High School, Class of 1966. Ron was a proud member of the U.S. Army, serving in Vietnam. He was awarded two Bronze Stars...

Nov 13, 2023

Maria Karakozis, age 74, of Portage, Indiana passed away Monday, November 13, 2023 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born September 18, 1949 in Chios, Greece to the late Mihail and Eleni Giannouris. Maria worked at Rosewood Family Restaurant for many years before retiring to spend time with her family. She was a loving wife, mother,...

Nov 11, 2023

Gerald "Jerry" A. Fitzgerald, age 67, of Portage passed away Saturday November 11, 2023, following an extended battle with cancer. Jerry said that "Cancer isn't going to win. When I go cancer is going with me. I'd say that's a draw, cancer didn't win!!!" Jerry was born January 6, 1956, in Valparaiso, Indiana to the late H. Jerry Fitzgerald,...

Nov 11, 2023

Minerva M. Yanez, 75, of Hobart passed away Saturday, November 11, 2023,

surrounded by her family.  She was born December 21, 1947, in Tampico,

Tamaulipas, Mexico to the late Rodolfo Galindo and Rosa (Nona) Yanez.

Minerva moved to the United States in 1967 and raised her son, Jose.  She

worked for...

Nov 10, 2023

Rebecca Kay Castellanos, "Becky", age 63, of Lake Station, IN passed away on Friday, November 10, 2023.

Becky was born on July 26, 1960 in Hammond, IN to the late Thomas and Roberta Smith.  She married Jerry Castellanos, Sr. and spent over 30 loving years together.  Becky was a homemaker and cared for her home and children.  ...

Nov 9, 2023

Charles F. Shultz, age 83 of Valparaiso passed away November 9, 2023, at home surrounded by his family. He was born on November 3, 1940, in Rensselaer, Indiana to the late Charles and Bernice Shultz. He proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army. On June 15, 1968, he married the love of his life,...

Nov 8, 2023

Ethel M. Teller (nee Leitch), age 82, of Portage, IN and formerly of Lake Station, IN, passed away on Wednesday, November 8, 2023.

Ethel was born on March 27, 1941 in Galatia, Saline County, IL to the late Gwen and Gladys (nee Lawyer) Leitch.  She was very skilled as an accountant and a real estate agent but...

Nov 7, 2023

Paul R. Scherer, age 80, of Hobart passed away November 7, 2023. Paul was born February 14, 1943, in Joliet, Illinois to the late Ralph and Evelyn (Amann) Scherer. He retired from US Steel with over thirty years of service. He was a proud veteran of the US Marine Corps. He was a former member of American Legion Post...

Nov 5, 2023

Alpha Coffman-Poturalski, age 81 of Calumet Township passed away Sunday November 5th surrounded by her family. She was born March 12, 1942 in Chesterton, IN. to Alpha and Florence Burns. Alpha spent her life in Northwest Indiana where she was a long-time educator at the Lake Ridge School system, a member of the American Federation of Teachers, American Legion...

Nov 5, 2023

Joyce Wackett, age 86, of Valparaiso, passed away November 5, 2023. She was born on March 17, 1937, in Gary, Indiana to the late John and Helen (Nee: Semon) Kerr.

Joyce graduated from Hobart High School in 1955 and went on to St. Catherine Hospital where she earned her degree as an X-ray technician. On April 6,...

Nov 5, 2023

Mercedes Martir-Rivera

Age 101, of Cromwell, Connecticut passed away Sunday November 5, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on September 24, 1922, In Lares, Puerto Rico to the late Meliton and Pastora (nee Soto) Martir.

She is survived by her 9 children, Soledad Cebollero, Susana M. (Filomeno) Cebollero de Rizo, Jose Cebollero, ...

Nov 4, 2023

Elaine Claire Ansbro, age 88, of Hobart, passed away Saturday, November 4, 2023, at St Mary's Medical Center in Hobart. She was born May 15, 1935, in Gary, Indiana to the late Burl and Dorothy (nee Page) Etchison. Elaine proudly served her country in the United States Air Force, and worked and retired from the United States Government, where...