obituaries

Oct 14, 2023

WILLIAM PAGAN, age 76, of Lake Station, passed away Saturday, October 14, 2023, at Jesse Brown Medical Center in Illinois.  He was born on April 20, 1947, in Puerto Rico to the late Gregorio Pagan and Josefa Torres.  William was a proud veteran of the US Army, who served in Vietnam. He had worked for Jacobsen office supplies where...

Oct 12, 2023

Terry Lee Bennett, II, age 43, of Portage passed away Thursday October 12, 2023, at Northwest Health-Portage. Terry was born June 18, 1980, in Merrillville, Indiana to Terry and Sheryll (Trager) Bennett. Terry was an automobile mechanic that had worked for Bosak Toyota. He loved Classic Rock Music, Horror Movies, and collecting baseball cards. Halloween was his favorite holiday....

Oct 12, 2023

Richard W. Johnson ,"Rich", age 64, of Portage, IN and formerly of Valparaiso, IN, passed away on Thursday, October 12, 2023.

Rich was born on March 7, 1959 in Harlan, KY to the late Helen (nee Johnson) Vanover.  He worked for many years as a machine operator with several different companies including Orville Redenbacher.  Rich married Deanna...

Oct 11, 2023

Thomas Askren, age 73, of Portage passed away Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Thomas was born June 27,1950 to the late John E. and Dorothy (nee Jackman) Askren.  Thomas proudly served his country in the United States Air Force, and retired from Inland Steel, where he worked as a mechanic. He was a member...

Oct 11, 2023

Edna M. McDonald (nee Adams), age 95, of Hobart, passed away at home on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. She was born on October 9, 1928, in Gary, Indiana to the late Bee and Blanche Adams. On August 6, 1945, she married Cris McDonald in Spokane, Washington. Edna loved to read, enjoyed line dancing and was an avid Chicago Cubs...

Oct 9, 2023

Douglas D. Lins, "Danger Doug", age 62, of Kouts, IN and formerly of Mishawaka, IN passed away on Monday, October 9, 2023.

Doug was born on February 26, 1961 in Nashville, TN to Delbert and late Margaret (nee Shaw) Lins.  He was a graduate of Penn High School in Mishawaka, Class of 1978.  Doug went on to...

Oct 8, 2023

Larry A. Pruitt, age 76, of Portage passed away Sunday October 8, 2023, at the VNA Hospice Center in Valparaiso. Larry was born January 4, 1947, in Birmingham, Alabama to the late Eugene and Martha (Herrin) Pruitt. He was a steelworker that retired from Inland Steel Company in 2009 with over thirty years of service. He was veteran of...

Oct 8, 2023

Tammy J. Costley, age 63 of Portage passed away Sunday, October 8, 2023.  She was born on June 5, 1960 in Gary Indiana to the late William C. and Julie Costley Sr..  Tammy grew up in Gary and graduated from Wirt High School in 1978.  She was also a former Hobart resident but currently resided in Portage for the...

Oct 7, 2023

Catherine M. Meakisz, age 74, of Griffith passed away Saturday, October 7, 2023. She was born on August 20, 1949, in Parker, Pennsylvania to the late Thomas and Florence Bester. She loved her family and dedicated her life to taking care of them. She always kept herself busy, whether she was making blankets, repairing holes in clothing, decorating cakes...

Oct 7, 2023

Sheryl Lynn Schmeler was called home to be with her Savior on October 7 after a journey with metastatic breast cancer that had begun over a year ago.  Sherry, age 62, lived in Hobart, Indiana.

Sherry is survived by her parents, Dave & Dottie Leonard of Hobart, daughter Jamie (and Doug) Arambula of Crown Point, daughter Carrie...

Oct 7, 2023

Clarence Edward "Ed" Cable, 78, of Lake Station passed away October 7, 2023, at St. Mary's hospital.  He was born May 13, 1945, in Kentucky to the late James and Myrtle (Coons) Cable.

Ed married Sylvia Louise Wyller on July 18, 1964, and together they raised three children.  He worked as a crane man at Inland Steel...

Oct 6, 2023

SPC David Jose Claudio, age 21, of Fort Carson, Colorado and formerly of Hobart, Indiana passed away unexpectedly Friday, October 6, 2023. He was born on November 24, 2001, in Merrillville, Indiana to Jose and Deliah Claudio. A 2020 Portage High School graduate, he was currently an active-duty service member of the United States Army stationed in Fort Carson,...

Oct 5, 2023

Mary Jane Wiegand, age 78, of Chesterton, formerly of Valparaiso passed away on October 5, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.  She was born September 23, 1945, in Rensselaer, Indiana to the late William and Della (nee Snow) Ferrell.  Mary was an amazing mother who lived her wonderful life for her family, she will be missed greatly. Her family...

Oct 4, 2023

Shirley Jo Murphy, age 72, of Hobart passed away Wednesday October 4, 2023, at home with her family and cats by her side. Shirley was born August 27, 1951, in Gary, Indiana to the late William and Ruth (Clay) Belsha. She was a loan officer and account manager with several banks including Hobart Federal Savings Bank. Shirley loved her...

Oct 4, 2023

Jack R. Way, age 69, of Portage, IN and formerly of Cedar Lake, IN, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

Jack was born on December 6, 1953 in Gary, IN to the late Clarence and Virginia (nee Thurnhill) Way.  He worked as a mechanic for many years with...

Oct 2, 2023

Patricia "Pat" Watts (nee Wilding), age 76, of Valparaiso, IN and formerly of Navarre, FL, passed away on Monday, October 2, 2023.

Pat was born on February 14, 1947 in South Bend, IN to the late James and Rose (nee Moss) Wilding.  She proudly worked for over 40 years as a Registered Nurse with Gary Methodist Hospital,...

Oct 1, 2023

We mourn the loss of Bruce St. Julien, who passed away surrounded by his family on October 1, 2023, at the age of 74. Bruce's life was a remarkable blend of dedicated service, professional achievement, culinary artistry, intellectual curiosity, and abiding love for his family. He was born on March 23, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Robert...

Sep 30, 2023

Arthur (Art) Kenneth Mathas, age 79 of Hobart, beloved husband, father, brother, cousin, friend, and of course Poppa passed away on Saturday, September 30, 2023, after a full blessed life.  He was born on August 29, 1944, in Gary, IN to the late Kenneth Arthur Mathas and Frances Sobczak Mathas (Pawlik).   Art married Gail Mathas (Cooper) on December 12,...

Sep 29, 2023

Mr. and Mrs. Carl and Jackie (nee Karner) Brickley both passed away in September of 2023. Jackie was born on July 26, 1951, in Elgin, Illinois to the late George and Florence Brasich. Carl was born on September 4, 1949, in Gary, Indiana to the late Norris and Edith Brickley. On November 21, 1970, they got married at the...

Sep 29, 2023

Rhea Laramie, 95, of Portage passed away Friday, September 29, 2023, in Chesterton, Indiana. She was born Agatha Rhea Brooks on April 28, 1928, in Casey, Illinois to the late Homer and Ethel Brooks.

Rhea married Robert Laramie on May 29, 1967, and together they raised 7 children. Rhea was a devoted homemaker - cooking, canning, baking,...