obituaries

May 8, 2023

Jean McDaniel (nee Czekaj), age 80, of Portage, IN, passed away at home on Monday, May 8, 2023.

Jean was born on December 20, 1942 in Hobart, IN to the late Marion and Angela (nee Krystek) Czekaj. Jean married Leon McDaniel on October 29, 1960 and spent 61 loving years together. Jean was a homemaker...

May 7, 2023

David G. McCord, age 88, of Hobart, passed away on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at his daughter's home in Hobart.  David was born on January 5, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Thomas and Ruby (nee White) McCord.  He was an IBEW Local 531 retiree where he worked as an electrician.  David married the love of his life Carole...

May 7, 2023

William Sykes "Bill" Bailey, 70, of Ogden Dunes, IN passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 7 th , 2023. He was born in Gary and grew up in Ogden Dunes where he lived and raised his family. Bill graduated from Portage High School, attended college at DePauw and graduated from the University of Evansville and obtained his Masters...

May 7, 2023

Peter Douglas Saims "Doug", age 68 of Hobart passed away Sunday, May 7, 2023, at Northwest Health Porter Hospital in Valparaiso. He was born on March 24, 1955, in Gary, Indiana to the late Peter and Virginia Saims. On September 20, 1986, he married Ida Cortazar in Gary, Indiana and together they raised two sons. He retired in...

May 7, 2023

Thomas P. Trojan

Age 80, of Indianapolis, formerly of Hobart passed away Sunday, May 7,2023 after a long battle with Parkinson's. He was born February 1, 1943, to the late Walter and Anna (nee Gower) Trojan in Gary, Indiana. Thomas worked and retired from ATT, formerly Indiana Bell where he worked as an Information Technologist....

May 5, 2023

Mary Barszcz age 63, of Portage passed away Friday, May 5, 2023, at her home. Mary was born on December 14.1959 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Józef and Genowefa (nee Piotrowski) Barszcz. She worked as a bartender for many years in Chicago. Mary enjoyed gardening and spending time with her family, but above all she loved spending...

May 4, 2023

Susan C. Carr, age 69, of Portage, IN and formerly of Lake Station, IN, passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

Susan was born on September 6, 1953 in Gary, IN to the late Charles George and Betty Louise (nee Blackburn) Goodwin. She was a graduate of Lake Station Edison High School, Class of 1971....

Apr 29, 2023

Bernadette L. Grigonis, age 75, of Burke, VA and formerly of Gary, IN, passed away on Saturday, April 29, 2023.

Bernadette was born on January 27, 1948 in Gary, IN to the late Anthony and Anne (nee Zoleckas) Grigonis. She was a graduate of Emerson High School, Class of 1966 and earned her bachelor's degree...

Apr 29, 2023

Stephen A. Askren, "Steve", age 66, a lifelong resident of Merrillville, IN, passed away on Saturday, April 29, 2023.

Steve was born on December 9, 1956 in Gary, IN to the late Dale and Carol (nee Houghtaling) Askren. He was a graduate of Merrillville High School, Class of 1975. Steve went to work right away...

Apr 25, 2023

Karen Rose Braun, age 69 of Downey, California passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2023. She was born on August 8, 1953, in Gary, Indiana to Richard and Rose Braun. She had worked at the Staples Center in California. Karen will be remembered as a free spirit.

She is survived by her mother, Rose Braun of...

Apr 24, 2023

Amanda Jean Ing, age 40, of North Judson passed away Monday, April 24, 2023, after surviving cancer and battling Neurofibromatosis Type 2. She was born on August 9, 1982, in Hobart, Indiana to John Smith and Sheila Billheimer. She loved singing Karaoke and enjoyed fashion and makeup. Amanda loved the Christmas season and put her tree up every...

Apr 23, 2023

Richard Earl Schafer, age 61, of Portage passed away April 23, 2023. He was born on February 1, 1962 in Gary, Indiana to the late Richard and Geraldine Schafer. As a 1981 graduate of the Indianapolis School for the Deaf, he continued to keep in touch with his classmates. He had a passion for cars and loved to...

Apr 23, 2023

Susan Elizabeth Squire (nee Nelson), age 80, of Portage passed away Sunday, April 23, 2023. She was born on February 4, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois to the late John and Verena Nelson. Raised in Whiting, Indiana, Susan graduated from George Rogers Clark High School then went on to attend Indiana University, Bloomington, where she majored in German and Russian....

Apr 22, 2023

Kenneth Walter Sprengel, age 84, of Portage passed away Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Munster Med-Inn. He was born October 18, 1938, in Oak Park, Illinois to the late Walter and Florence (nee Johnson) Sprengel. Kenneth retired from the United State Customs and Immigration in Chicago where he worked as an accountant. He was an avid Cubs Fan...

Apr 21, 2023

Jack L. Wampler, age 73, of Portage passed away Friday April 21, 2023, at the Rittenhouse Village of Portage. He was born November 4, 1949, in Linton, Indiana to the late Carl and Margaret (Heaton) Wampler, Sr. Jack retired from the Portage Street Department after 38 years of service. He was an avid Cubs Fan. He was a...

Apr 20, 2023

William D. Patterson, "Billy", "Rocky", age 64, a lifelong resident of Lake Station, IN, passed away on Thursday April 20, 2023. Billy was born on December 18, 1958 in Gary, IN to the late Ellis Patterson and Beverly (nee Emerson) Currie. Billy retired from U.S. Steel as a millwright and welder with over 36 years of experience. He...

Apr 20, 2023

Brian McCann Age 33, of Chesterton, Indiana passed away April 20, 2023. He was born on February 23, 1990, to Colette (nee Rzepczynski) Weitknecht and Timothy McCann. Brian loved being a dad to his four boys: Chace, Henry, Theodore and Archer. He enjoyed teaching them how to fish, how to use various tools while doing house projects, and wrestling around...

Apr 20, 2023

George L. Otano, age 93, of Merrillville, IN passed away Thursday April 20th, 2023.

He was born in Lares, Puerto Rico on September 29th, 1929, to Isidoro and Ines Otano. George worked as a Laborer in the Open Hearth furnace at Inland Steel for 30 years. After retiring from...

Apr 20, 2023

Anna Mae "Anne" Springman (nee Feryo), age 95, of Hobart, IN and formerly of Gary, IN passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2023.

Anne was born on August 9, 1927 in Gary, IN to the late Michael and Anna (nee Lobo) Feryo. She grew up across the street from Froebel High School in Gary, where...

Apr 19, 2023

Jack L. Brown, age 94, of Portage passed away Wednesday April 19, 2023, Brickyard Nursing Center in Portage. Jack was born October 8, 1928, in Gary, Indiana to the late William and Lucille (Roberts) Brown. He was a Union Plumber that worked out of Plumber's Local Union #210 in Hobart. He was a hard working family man that will...