obituaries

Dec 8, 2023

Jerry Lee Evans, age 80, of Hobart, passed away Friday, December 8, 2023. He was born on March 15, 1943, in Gary, Indiana to the late Jeff and Thelma Evans. He was a 1960 graduate of River Forest High School.  On August 7, 1965, he married Donna Evans in Hobart. Jerry was a dedicated tradesman and worked as a...

Dec 4, 2023

Janis Kaye Moore, 79, of Portage, passed away Monday, December 4, 2023.  She was born April 12, 1944, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and adopted by the late Raymond T. and Helma A. (Mieras) Moore at six days old.

Janis grew up in Iowa where she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at the University of Iowa.  She...

Dec 3, 2023

Debra Marie Renn

Age 70, of Hobart passed away Sunday, December 3, 2023, at her home. She was born on September 17, 1953, in Gary, Indiana to the late Mickey and Virginia Mucha. Debra was a 1971 graduate of River Forest, and she retired from Jewel Osco in Munster after 33 years, where she worked as a...

Dec 3, 2023

Cassandra "Cassie" (nee Padlo) Belshaw

Age 75, of Portage, passed away Sunday, December 3, 2023, at her home. She was born on October 15, 1948, to the late Stanley A. and Janice (nee Clement) Padlo Sr. in Gary, Indiana. Cassie was a 1966 graduate of Tolleston High School in Gary. She married the love of her life...

Dec 2, 2023

Olive Evelyn Shinabarger, age 82 of Hobart passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at home surrounded by her family. She was born on December 1, 1941, in County Antrim in Northern Ireland to the late Noel and Thomasena Wright. She spent her younger years moving to many different countries before finally settling in the United States. On...

Dec 2, 2023

Flemenia "Mena" Wilson, 88, of Lake Station, Indiana passed away Saturday, December 2, 2023.  She was born June 10, 1935, in Chicago Heights, Illinois to the late Dominick and Rose (Panici) Rossi.

Mena is a first-generation United States citizen, her parents immigrated here from Italy and raised a large family with twelve children. Mena was married to...

Dec 1, 2023

Sharon Rae Bailey, age 79, of Hobart, IN, passed away with her husband by her side on Friday, December 1, 2023.

Sharon was born in Gary, IN on April 19, 1944 to the late Howard and Lucile (nee Taylor) Spero.  She attended Hobart High School and later earned her diploma.  Sharon married the love of her life,...

Nov 30, 2023

Dennis J. King, age 71, of Hobart passed away suddenly Thursday November 30, 2023, at St Mary Medical Center in Hobart. Dennis was born September 24, 1952, in Gary to the late Herbert W. and Virginia May (Mattingly) King, Sr. Dennis was a retired limousine driver. He was a member of the Hobart High School Alumni Association. He was...

Nov 28, 2023

David R. Hill, 89, of Portage, passed away Tuesday, November 28, 2023, surrounded by his loving children.  He was born September 28, 1934, in Gary, Indiana to the late Willis and Violet (Rockwell) Hill.

Early in his career, David worked for MCA/Universal color correcting various films.  He later went to work for US Steel and eventually retired...

Nov 28, 2023

Michael J. O'Connor, age 75 of Lake Station/Portage area passed away Tuesday, November 28, 2023.  He was born on May 20, 1948 in Hammond, Indiana to the late James O'Connor and Dorothy Hegedus.  Michael retired from the City of Lake Station Street Department after many years of service.  He graduated from Hammond Tech High School.  Michael was considered a...

Nov 28, 2023

Vaughn C. Froman

Age 83, of Hobart passed away Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at South Lake Methodist Hospital in Merrillville, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Gary, Indiana on April 5, 1940, to the late George and Lois (nee Jenkins) Froman. Vaughn retired from Nipsco, where he worked construction and was a former area...

Nov 25, 2023

Jordan Paul Barraza

Age 26, of Portage, passed away on Saturday, November 25, 2023. He was born on July 20, 1997, to Shawn Ornelas and the late Paul Barraza in Hobart, Indiana. He was a self-employed carpenter. He will be remembered as an outgoing, fun loving, big-hearted man who would help anyone in need. He enjoyed fishing...

Nov 25, 2023

Grace L. Mattia (Nee Lascala), age 99, formerly of Lake Station passed away in Plano, TX on November 25, 2023.

Grace is survived by her three children, Ronald (Barbara) of McKinney, TX, Annette, and Joseph James "Jim" both of Portage, IN. Grace has six grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Schwertz of Ambridge, PA, and Josephine...

Nov 24, 2023

Samantha N. Carr, 40, of Portage passed away in her home Friday, November 24, 2023.  She was born October 14, 1983, in Porter County, Indiana to John and Kate (Richards) Carr.

Samantha was the proud mother of Ozzy Devine, whom she loved dearly.  She was most recently a baker making donuts at the County Line Orchard in...

Nov 23, 2023

Linda L. Hartford (nee Dufresne), age 82, of Hobart, IN passed away on Thursday, November 23, 2023.

Linda was born on November 26, 1940 in Gary, IN to the late Melvin Dufresne and Lillian (nee Wilson) Haney.  She was a graduate of Hobart High School, Class of 1958 and worked at the Indiana Botanical Gardens in scheduling...

Nov 23, 2023

Thomas A. Ford, Age 83, of Portage passed away Thursday November 23, 2023, at the VNA Hospice Center in Valparaiso. Thomas was born December 6, 1939, in Gary, Indiana to the late Thomas Arnold and Margaret (Phelps) Ford. Thomas was a retired firefighter for the City of Portage he also was a member The Carpenters Local Union #54. Thomas...

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...