obituaries

Jan 15, 2024

Leetta Karlene Sarkkinen

Age 85 of Portage passed away Monday, January 15, 2024. She was born August 3, 1938, to the late Clarence and Lourien (Nee Long) Carlisle. Leetta loved spending time with her family. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great - great grandmother.

She is survived...

Jan 15, 2024

Lateysha Marie Pressley age 31, of Valparaiso, Indiana passed away Monday, January 15, 2024. She was born April 13, 1992, in Michigan City, Indiana to Lamar C. Newsone and Melissa Pressley. Lateysha will be remembered as a loving mother, daughter, granddaughter, cousin, and friend. Lateysha is survived by her twins, Oshea and Olivia Pressley; her mother, Melissa Pressley; her...

Jan 14, 2024

Paul Eugene Crisman passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2024, at the age of 88. Paul was a very devout Christian. He was always ready to assist with any work around the church. He held many offices in the Hobart First United Methodist Church. His best gift from God was his voice. He rarely missed a Sunday service or...

Jan 13, 2024

Janis V. McNamara, age 76, a lifelong Portage, IN resident passed away on Saturday, January 13, 2024.

Janis was born on January 13, 1948 in Portage, IN to the late Andrew and Helen (nee Konski) Randon.  She was a graduate of Portage High School.  Janis married James McNamara on February 10, 1974 and enjoyed 49 years together.  ...

Jan 13, 2024

Martha J. Best, age 76, of Lake Station passed away January 13, 2024 at her home with her family in attendance. Martha was born April 5, 1947 in Humboldt, Tennessee, to the late Orville and Jonell (Manely) Miller. She retired from Miller's Merry Manor in Hobart after 35 years as a CNA.

She is survived by her...

Jan 13, 2024

Rita C. Zerial (nee Zemaitis), age 75, of Portage, IN and formerly of Chicago, IL, passed away on Saturday, January 13, 2024.

Rita was born on April 25, 1948 in Chicago, IL to the late William and Clara (nee Sarkauskas) Zemaitis.  She was a graduate of Kelly High School, Class of 1966.  Rita married Joseph Zerial on...

Jan 12, 2024

Rose M. Genisio, age 58, of Portage Indiana passed away Friday January 12, 2024. She was born February 5, 1965, in Hammond, Indiana and adopted by her parents Raymond and Kathleen (nee Shrader) Langbehn.

She was a member of The Salvation Army of Porter County Church. Rose loved to go shopping, especially for her grandchildren. She enjoyed...

Jan 12, 2024

John A. Perry Sr.

Age 87 of Portage passed away Friday, January 12, 2024, at Methodist Hospital in Gary. John was born on August 17, 1936, to the late Willie and Carrie (nee Johns) Perry in Maben, Alabama.  John was an LTV retiree and proudly served his country in the United States Marines. He loved football, baseball,...

Jan 12, 2024

ROGER DUANE DAVIDSON, age 70, of Knox, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, January 12, 2024, as the result of an auto accident.  He was born on March 9, 1953 to the late Clara and Harold Davidson. After Roger graduated from high school he joined the US Marines and was stationed at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA for training. He...

Jan 11, 2024

April Lynn Nelson, age 66, of Hobart, Indiana passed away Thursday January 11, 2024. She was born April 4, 1957, in Hobart, Indiana to the late Curtis Wayne and Patty Jean Nelson (nee Manis).

April is survived by her son Jason (Jessica) Nelson, her sister Beth (Jack) Lilly, her brother Michael A. (Chris) Nelson, and six grandchildren....

Jan 11, 2024

Kellilyn Valetich, age 54 of Valparaiso, formerly of Portage passed away Thursday, January 11, 2024. She was born on March 27, 1969, to the late Alvin T. and Kathy (Cahill) Valetich in Gary, Indiana. Kelly took pride in her work as she was a devoted employee of Town and Country for over twenty years of service, commonly referred to...

Jan 9, 2024

Barbara Jean (Baker) Burkland, age 75 of Hobart passed away Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at home surrounded by her family. She was born on June 3, 1948, in Gary, Indiana to the late George and Elaine Baker. She graduated from Hobart High School in 1967. On May 3, 1969, she married Robert Burkland. Barbara retired from Lake Station Schools...

Jan 9, 2024

Cindy Lee Wright, age 69, of Hobart, IN passed away on Tueday, January 9, 2024.

Cindy was born on January 11, 1954, in Munster, IN to the late William E. and Naomi Lou (nee Blount) Smith.  While she worked many different jobs over the years, including as a Teachers Aide while she lived in Alabama, Cindy was...

Jan 9, 2024

Maria Gutierrez, age 71, of Hobart, Indiana passed away Tuesday, January 9,2024, at St. Mary Medical Center. She was born on August 27, 1952, in Monterey, Mexico to the late Adolfo and Gregoria (nee Coronado) Soto.

She married the love of her life Juan Gutierrez on June 23, 1974, and they have spent 49 loving years together....

Jan 7, 2024

Betty June Wojtysiak (nee Bellar), age 71 of Valparaiso, passed away Sunday, January 7, 2024. She was born on November 24, 1952, in Gary, IN to Ralph and Venus Bellar.  She was a 1971 graduate from Hobart High School.  After high school, she worked at Buy Low Foods in Hobart, IN as a cashier.  In 1972, she married her...

Jan 5, 2024

George Robert Olovich, 80, of Hobart, Indiana was called home to the Lord on Friday, January 5, 2024.  He was born September 9, 1943, in Gary, Indiana to the late George and Cecilia (nee: Cisowski).

George married the love of this life, Bernice "Betty" (nee: Warzecha) on May 8, 1965, and together raised two sons.  He was...

Dec 31, 2023

Elmer E. Nagy

Age 78, of Portage, Indiana passed away Sunday, December 31, 2023, at home. He was born on August 10, 1945, in Gary Indiana to the late Frank J. and Hazel I. Nagy. A lifelong Portage resident, he graduated from Portage High School in 1963. He proudly served his country in the United States Army....

Dec 30, 2023

Sharon L. Novak, age 68 of Portage, passed away Saturday, December 30, 2023. She was born on February 4, 1955, in Gary, Indiana to the late Jay and Betty Hassett. Sharon loved shopping and collected clothes, shoes, and teddy bears of any kind. Above all, she loved her children and grandchildren, and talked about them whenever she had the...

Dec 26, 2023

John A. Hamady, age 80 of Hobart, passed away Tuesday, December 26, 2023. He was born on May 20, 1943, in Gary, Indiana to the late John and Cecelia Hamady. He was a 1963 graduate of River Forest High School and proudly served his country as a member of the United States Navy. John retired from NIPSCO where he...

Dec 24, 2023

Charles D. Adams, age 74 of Valparaiso, passed away Sunday, December 24, 2023, at home. He was born on December 27, 1948, in Gary, Indiana. Charles was a skilled mechanic and owned and operated Family Auto Service. He proudly served his country in the United States Army. He was a member of the American Legion Post #502 in South...