obituaries

Aug 31, 2023

Blanca Santos, age 91, of Hobart, was called home to the Lord Thursday August 31, 2023, at the home of her daughter. She was born November 22, 1931, in Ciales, Puerto Rico to the late Emilio and Eduarda (Rivera) Rivera. She retired as a Certified Nursing Assistant in the surgical department at St. Mary Medical Center with twenty-five years...

Aug 31, 2023

Stephanie L. ODerio (nee Saunders), age 42, of Gary, IN and formerly of Jefferson City, MO, passed away suddenly on Thursday, August 31, 2023.

Stephanie was born on August 30, 1981, in Lebanon, MO to Mitchell and late Dewey (nee Kelsey) Saunders.   She attended Nixa High School.  Stephanie married Dan ODerio on October 5, 2001, and spent...

Aug 30, 2023

Mary Nell Gilland (nee McClure), age 87, of Miller, IN and formerly of Marion, KY, passed away on August 30, 2023.

Mary was born on July 12, 1936 in Marion, KY to the late Robbie and Lura (nee Cooper) McClure.  She was a graduate of Crittenden County High School, Class of 1956.  Two days after graduation on...

Aug 28, 2023

August P. Gessler, age 18 of Hobart passed away unexpectedly Monday, August 28, 2023, at his home. He was born on August 23, 2005, in Crown Point to Adam Gessler and Rebecca Marie Moser. August loved music and was a talented guitarist. He also loved art. August is at peace now.

He is survived by his parents,...

Aug 27, 2023

Eric Matthew Haynes, 21, of Hobart passed away on August 27, 2023. Eric was born in Hobart on July 18, 2002, to his loving parents Billy Joe and Kelly Haynes of Valparaiso. He is the beloved youngest brother of Billy and David Haynes.

Eric is survived by parents: Bill and Kelly Haynes, brothers: Billy (Vanessa Kroledge) and...

Aug 26, 2023

ROBERT E. MILLS, SR. Age 74, of Portage, formerly of Hobart, passed away Saturday, August 26, 2023.  He was born on January 18, 1949, to the late Edman and Laurene (nee Owens) Mills.  Robert was a Bethlehem Steel retiree, where he worked for more than 40 years as an electrical engineer.  Robert loved spending time with his family, he...

Aug 25, 2023

Awilda E. Jimenez (nee Baez) passed away Friday, August 25, 2023, at home. She was born on August 6, 1945, in San Juan, Puerto Rico to the late Felix and Maria Baez. On June 10, 1965, she married Faustino Jimenez, Sr. in Gary, Indiana and together they raised five children. Awilda loved her family and dedicated her life to...

Aug 21, 2023

Marilyn A. Naggatz, age 89, of Valparaiso passed away Monday August 21, 2023, in Hobart. Marilyn was born September 13, 1933, in Omaha, Nebraska to the late Arthur and Gladys (Miller) Meyer. She was a retired elementary school teacher that taught in three states. She was a very active member of Augustana Lutheran Church in Hobart. She was the...

Aug 20, 2023

Oval Childers, 89, of Lake Station, passed away Sunday, August 20, 2023.  He was born July 19, 1934, in Brook, Kentucky to the late Charlie and Bessie May (Robinson) Childers.

Oval married his late wife, Francis, on March 1, 1959, in Calumet, Indiana and together they raised three children.  Oval was a millwright with U.S. Steel.  In...

Aug 20, 2023

Junita June Briesacher, age 92, of Valparaiso passed away Sunday August 20, 2023, at the Aviva Valparaiso Assisted Living Center. June was born October 10, 1930, in Gary, Indiana to the late Clarence and Azorah (Bristow) Daniels. June was a retired Kindergarten Teacher with the Porter Township Schools with twenty-five years of service. June loved crafting and always enjoyed...

Aug 19, 2023

Lewis W. Blink, age 52, of Valparaiso, IN, passed away on Saturday, August 19, 2023. He was born on December 21, 1970, to Barbara J. (nee Lock) Blink and the late Gene R. Blink.  Lewis loved his family and enjoyed the time he spent with them. He will be remembered as a loving son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend....

Aug 18, 2023

Raymond Paul Hughes, age 63 of Hobart passed away Friday, August 18, 2023. He was born on September 4, 1959, in Gary, Indiana to Raymond and Anna Hughes. Paul had a kind and generous heart. He was a loving and giving soul who could also be stubborn at times. Despite sometimes being stubborn, he would drop everything for anyone...

Aug 16, 2023

Richard Eugene "Dick" Heridia, age 79 of Hobart passed away Wednesday, August 16, 2023.  He was born on September 19, 1943 to the late Manuel and Ellen Heridia.  He was a hard worker working as a Truck Driver for Teamsters Local 142.  Richard enjoyed fishing and loved his family.  He was a member of St Francis Xavier Church.

Aug 16, 2023

Greta L. Johnson, age 70, of Hobart, IN, passed away on Wednesday, August 16, 2023.

Greta was born on December 11, 1952 in Gary, IN to the late John and Greta R. Kroledge.  She married Curtis W. Johnson, Sr. on September 5, 1971 and spent 32 years together until his passing in 2004.  Greta, or "Nanny" as...

Aug 14, 2023

Rosalyn "Ros" Deandra (nee Mulvihill) Watson, of Hobart, IN, passed away on August 14, 2023, at the age of 48.  She was born on February 13, 1975, to Timothy I. Mulvihill and the late Jayne (nee McGuire) Rusnak in Valparaiso, Indiana.  Rosalyn grew up in South Haven, with her six siblings, before graduating from Portage High School, in 1992....

Aug 12, 2023

Barbara Jean Sherman (nee Poffinbarger), age 86 of Miller Beach passed away Saturday, August 12, 2023. She was born on October 6, 1936, to the late Ora and Helen (Opydo) Poffinbarger. On December 3, 1960, she married George P. Sherman, who preceded her in death in 2015. Also preceding her in death are her stepmother, Grace Streight; and brothers,...

Aug 9, 2023

Eileen Ruth Via, age 65, of Lake Station, Indiana passed away Wednesday August 9, 2023, in the University of Chicago Hospitals in Chicago. She was born November 4, 1957. Eileen worked at the TA truck stop in Porter where she worked as a line cook and porter.

She is survived by her husband, Michael Via; son Dustin...

Aug 9, 2023

Gloria Newman (nee French), age 83 of Hobart, passed away August 9, 2023. She was born on May 21, 1940, in Princeton, Kentucky to the late Archella and Minnie French. On October 5, 1963 she married Leslie Newman in Princeton, KY. She was a member of Barrington Ridge Baptist Church and dedicated her life to taking care of her...

Aug 9, 2023

Melisa A. Janis (nee Hafner), age 53, of Hobart, IN passed away on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.

Melisa was born on November 20, 1969 in Indiana to the late Robert Hafner and Melanie (nee Stevens) Mulledy.  She worked as a medical assistant and in hotel management over the years.  Melisa married Albert "Lee" Janis on August 19,...

Aug 9, 2023

David Dawson Chnupa, age 75, Portage, Indiana passed away August 9, 2023. Born June 1, 1948 in Gary, Indiana.

David worked at Bethlehem Steel, Budd  Company, various sales positions, including heavy duty trucks and parts, and was plenty busy during the Christmas season. He was very well known for being Santa at malls across the country, bringing...