obituaries

Feb 9, 2026

Laura (Mochan) Hollister, age 71, of Wheeler passed away in the comfort of her home on Feb. 9, 2026. Born on Dec. 1, 1954, to Marco and Genevieve (Vereb) Mochan, Laura grew up in Hobart, IN where she graduated from Hobart High School in 1973. She went on to have various careers in insurance, as a stay-at-home mom, a bookkeeper,...

Feb 9, 2026

Carlos "Papa Welo" Alvarez, Sr., age 73, of Portage, Indiana, passed away on February 9, 2026. He was born on July 18,1952, in Monterrey, Mexico to the late Francisco and Rosa (nee Elias) Alvarez. He retired as a steelworker from Inland Steel and also worked for Union 1010 at Cleveland-Cliffs, serving in both the line and the coke plant, where...

Feb 9, 2026

Miriam J. Ehrenfeld (nee Smeltzer), age 99, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 9, 2026. She was born on March 14, 1926, in Gary, Indiana, to the late Lloyd and Hertha Smeltzer.

Miriam was fiercely independent and devoted her life to caring for others. Her heart was big enough to take in children who were not her own and raise them...

Feb 9, 2026

Jessie Dee Allen

Age 90, of Hobart, Indiana passed away on February 9, 2026 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on February 28, 1935, in Doniphan, Missouri to the late Daniel and Dolly Mae (nee Gordon) Allen. Jessie dedicated thirty-two years of his life to U.S. Steel, where he worked his way up from broom sweeper to...

Feb 7, 2026

Clyde J. Allen, 83, of Portage, Indiana (formerly Hobart) passed away at home on February 7, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Clyde was born on July 11, 1942, in Halls, Tennessee, to B.F. and Geraldine (Jones) Allen. His family moved to Lake Station, Indiana, where Clyde graduated from Thomas A Edison High School in 1962. After high school, Clyde worked...

Feb 5, 2026

Anselmo A. “Mo” Guzman, Jr. age 80, of Lake Station, passed away Thursday, February 5, 2026, at his home.

He was born on July 29, 1945, in East Chicago, Indiana, to the late Anselmo and Maria Guzman. Mo proudly served his country in the Army Reserves for ten years. On May 1, 1974, he married the love of his life, Judy...

Feb 4, 2026

Steven Paul Metz,

Age 64, of Hobart, Indiana, passed away on February 4, 2026. He was born on March 31, 1962, in Gary, Indiana. Steve was a proud union operator with Local 150, where he dedicated many years of hard work and service. He was a man who lived life with Joy, humor, and heart. Known for his happy, goofy personality.

Steve...

Feb 4, 2026

Barbara Lynn (née Porubyanski) Thompson, age 67, of Portage, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

Barb was born on May 15, 1958, in East Chicago, Indiana, to the late Alex and Dolores Porubyanski. She enjoyed tending her garden, growing vegetables, and crocheting, and she was an avid dog lover. Barb was currently employed as a receiving clerk...

Feb 2, 2026

Wanda L. (née Barker) Douglas, age 82, of Hobart, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 2, 2026. She was born on August 5, 1943, in Ashland, Kentucky, to the late James and Ferl Barker.

On August 5, 1971, Wanda married the love of her life, Herman Douglas, in Wise, Virginia. Together they built a home filled with love, laughter, and devotion...

Feb 2, 2026

Margaret (French) Castro, age 46, passed away peacefully at home February 2nd, 2026. She was born January 26th, 1980. Margaret was a dedicated writer who spent her time cooking, jamming out to music, and spending time with her family.She found great joy in the little things in life like having the windows open on a nice day and leaving treats...

Feb 1, 2026

Karen Kauffman, age 68, of Hobart passed away Sunday February 1, 2026, at St Mary Medical Center in Hobart. Karen was born March 2, 1957, to the late Charles and Lorraine (Reidel) Andrews in New Eagle, Pennsylvania. She retired from Dave’s Auto Center where she worked as a secretary. She enjoyed spending time at the Izaak Walton League and the...

Jan 31, 2026

A Beautiful Life Remembered: Leona Marie Kemp (Wasson)

Leona Marie Kemp (Wasson) passed away on January 31st, 2026, at the young age of 71. She spent her final years in Rocky Mount, NC, where she and her devoted husband of nearly 46 years, Bob Kemp, made their home together in recent years. Leona’s presence will be profoundly missed by all who...

Jan 30, 2026

Nancy May (née Starkey) Larson, age 94 of Hobart, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2026. She was born on April 3, 1931, in Whitley County, Indiana, to the late Joe and Lena Starkey.

Nancy earned her master’s degree in education from Valparaiso University and devoted her career to teaching mathematics, touching many lives through her patience and love of learning....

Jan 30, 2026

Maria Melagro Weiss, age 76, of Hobart passed away Friday January 30, 2026, at Powers Health in Hobart. She was born August 27, 1949, to the late Damaso and Hilaria Sanabria (Torres) Serrano, in Bario LaCasa, Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. Maria enjoyed going to the casinos, shopping, gardening, and caring for her family.

Maria is survived by her loving husband, Juan Weiss...

Jan 29, 2026

Mark Josiah Rivas, age 20, passed away Thursday January 29, 2026, at his home in Portage. Mark was born February 5, 2005, in Melrose Park, Illinois to Jessica E. Rivas. He was a line technician for Axspoint. Mark loved to create music, playing keyboard, Rapping, and making people laugh. He also enjoyed playing video games.

He is survived by his loving...

Jan 28, 2026

Jan 27, 2026

Cheryl A. Bradford, age 79, of Lake Station passed away Tuesday January 27, 2026, at the William J. Riley Residence in Munster, Indiana. Cheryl was born June 2, 1946, in Gary, Indiana to the late George and Marion Hall. She was a lunch lady at Polk Elementary School in Lake Station. She also worked as a secretary at US Steel...

Jan 27, 2026

Eugene Joseph Bruszewski, age 90, of Hobart, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. He was born on November 17, 1935, in the Tolleston section of Gary, Indiana, to the late Julius and Theresa (née Naminski) Bruszewski.

A 1953 graduate of Wheeler High School, Eugene went on to earn certification as an Instrument Technician from Valparaiso Technical Institute. He dedicated...

Jan 27, 2026

Christopher “Todd” Osgood, age 50, of Hobart, Indiana, passed away on January 27, 2026. He was born on April 3, 1975, in Chicago Heights, Illinois, to John and Marcha Osgood.

Todd was a 1994 graduate of Bloom Trail High School. On September 5, 2015, he married the love of his life, Courtney Shepitka, at the Band Shell in Hobart, where together...

Jan 27, 2026

Sylvester A. “Bud” Kasprzak

Age 95, of Merrillville, Indiana passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. He was born on September 3, 1930, in Gary, Indiana to the late Sylvester and Katherine (nee Lis) Kasprzak. Bud proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War, a time that shaped his strong sense of duty...