obituaries

Feb 24, 2023

Aaron S. Highberger, age 49, of Portage, IN and formerly of Chesterton, IN passed away on Friday, February 24, 2023.

Aaron was born on January 6, 1974 in Valparaiso, IN to Stephen Highberger and the late Bonnie (nee Cutler) Rightsell.  He was a graduate of Chesterton High School, Class of 1992.  While in high school, Aaron was...

Feb 24, 2023

Robbie Clifton Gilland age 59, of Gary passed away Friday, February 24, 2023. He was born on December 14, 1963, in Gary, Indiana to Mary Nell (nee McClure) and the late Ollie Clifton Gilland. Robbie graduated from Wirt High School in the class of 1982. He enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening, and spending time outside. He loved spending time with...

Feb 23, 2023

Helen Rebus (nee Ledak)

Age 96, of Valparaiso passed away Thursday, February 23, 2023, at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born on July 20, 1926, in Gary, Indiana to the Late George and Mary (nee Kozel) Ledak. Prior to marriage Helen worked for United States Steel as a Clerk. On October 17, 1953, Helen...

Feb 23, 2023

Kathie Yvonne Yarbrough, age 69 of Salem Kentucky, and a longtime resident of Portage, and Chesterton, passed away Thursday, February 23, 2023, at St. Vincent Hospital in Evansville, Indiana. She was born on May 31, 1953. Kathie was a 1971 Portage High School graduate, and she worked as a bartender, waitress, caretaker, and she was very proud of her...

Feb 21, 2023

Maria Cristina Ruiz de Rosiles age 79, of Hobart passed away Tuesday, February 21, 2023. She was born on July 27, 1943 in Uriangato, Guanajuato, Mexico to the late Baltazar Rosiles and Gracia Lira Rosiles. On May 12, 1968 she married her beloved husband Adan Ruiz in Uriangato. She was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church...

Feb 21, 2023

Fred R. Schoon, age 88 of Portage passed away Tuesday, February 21, 2023. He was born on April 2, 1934 to the late  Walter and Minnie (nee Efabi) Schoon . Fred loved the Lord and faithfully lived by his word. He loved people and enjoyed working for Citizen's bank in management and served on the board of directors in...

Feb 20, 2023

LAWRENCE E. "LARRY" POWELL, age 81, of Hobart, passed away Monday, February 20, 2023.  He was born on February 13, 1942 to the late Charles "Jack" and Emily Powell. Larry proudly served in the US Army during the Vietnam War.  Larry was the previous owner of Dan and Dave's Small Engine Repair, and more recently he was delivering parts...

Feb 17, 2023

Joel David Sullivan age 73, of Gary passed away Friday, February 17, 2023. He was born on March 20, 1949 in Hardin County, Tennessee to the late James and Robbie Sullivan. David graduated from the Indiana School for the Deaf in Indianapolis. He was a dog lover and had a special place in his heart for rescuing Pugs and...

Feb 17, 2023

Vondall W. Fitzgerald, age 42, of Portage passed away Friday February 17, 2023, at the Northwest Health-Portage Hospital. He was born May 9, 1980 in Tacoma, Washington to Vondall and Denise (Wood) Fitzgerald. He was a DJ and loved music and sharing it with others.

He is survived by his father, Vondall Fitzgerald of Portage; three children,...

Feb 16, 2023

Marie Zappe, age 95 of Hobart passed away Thursday, February 16, 2023. She was born on December 11, 1927 in Waremme, Belgium to the late Alphonse and Marie Mangon. She retired from Anderson Company in 1990 where she worked as a hand assembler. She formerly volunteered her time at St. Mary Medical Center and enjoyed crocheting nice things for...

Feb 16, 2023

Lorraine A. Isakson, age 93, passed away on February 16, 2023 after a brief illness.  Born on March 26, 1929 to Ralph and Edna Peterson, she grew up in Chesterton, Indiana, graduating from Chesterton High School in 1947.  Shortly before Christmas 1949, she met the love of her life, Bill Isakson.  They wed in April 1950 and shared 61...

Feb 16, 2023

Becky Woodard, age 66, of Hobart passed away Thursday February 16, 2023, at Northwest Health-Porter in Valparaiso. Becky was born January 6, 1957, in Gary, Indiana to the late Clayton and Vivian (Reeves) Taylor. She was a long-time employee of Bob Evans Restaurant in Valparaiso. Becky was a devout member of Liverpool Baptist Church. She enjoyed reading and sewing....

Feb 13, 2023

Dana Marie Peksenak Cooley, age 47, of Portage was taken from this life on Monday February 13, 2023, at her home.  Dana was born May 11, 1975 in Hobart, Indiana to the late John Joseph and Linda Ann (Yaselsky) Peksenak. She was a retired quality control technician for Cleveland Cliffs Steel. Dana enjoyed bowling, riding her Harley, and Arts...

Feb 12, 2023

Edward Lee Knox, age 41 of Portage and formerly of Lake Station passed away suddenly on February 12, 2023. He was born on March 1, 1981 in Galveston, Texas to the late Clarence Knox and Desiree Emerson. He graduated from Lake Station Edison High School in 2000. On February 28, 2007 he married Tiffany Teal in Crown Point. Eddie...

Feb 12, 2023

Krystyn A. "Tina" Replin

Age 77 passed away Sunday, February 12, 2023 at home. She was born on January 5,1946, in Feldafing, Germany to the late Michael and Anna (nee Hutnik) Bojko.  Tina was a 1963 Lew Wallace High School graduate and a longtime Portage resident and worked at George L. Myers Elementary School in the Y...

Feb 11, 2023

Jesús Martínez Torres "El Cuate", de 88 años, de Lake Station, IN, falleció el sábado 11 de febrero de 2023.

Los familiares y amigos pueden reunirse en Rees Funeral Home, Hobart Chapel (600 W. Old Ridge Rd, Hobart) para el velorio el viernes 24 de febrero de 2023 de 3:00 a 7:00 p.m. Un servicio de oración...

Feb 11, 2023

Stanley R. "Staś" Losinski, age 81 of Gary and Hobart, passed away Saturday, February 11, 2023. He was born on January 17, 1942 in Gary, Indiana to the late Stanley and Mary Losinski. Staś proudly served his country as a Navy medic on Paris Island, SC for the United States Marine Corps. He attended St. Hedwig elementary school, Bishop...

Feb 10, 2023

Antonio "Tony" Fontanez

Age 68, of Portage passed away on Friday February 10, 2023. Tony was born on January 11, 1955, in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico to his mother, Gloria Garcia and his late father, Antonio Fontanez. He was a self-employed mechanic and was a very happy go lucky guy. He was a morning person, he loved...

Feb 10, 2023

Nancy M. Guzman (nee Farley), age 67, of Hobart, IN, passed away on Friday, February 10, 2023.

Nancy was born on May 9, 1955 in Gary, IN to the late John Farley and Maxine (nee Davis) Nix.  She married Donald Guzman on August 26, 1977 and spent 45 loving years together.  Nancy worked as a lunch lady...

Feb 8, 2023

Cathy J. Willis

There are few words to express our deep pain in announcing the death of my mother Cathy Willis (nee Hightower), formally Morrow, formally Tucker. Cathy passed away on Wednesday February 8, 2023 at the age of 71 from complications of surgery.  She leaves behind her loving husband of 13 years, Brian Willis of Portage. ...