obituaries

Nov 15, 2022

Helen Marie Owens, age 99, of Portage, IN formerly a 60 yr. resident of Chicago Heights, IL passed away Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at Rittenhouse in Portage, IN.

Helen was born September 22, 1923, in Hinsdale, Illinois to the late William and Hedvig (nee Jorgensen) Frantzen. Hedvig, Helen's mother passed shortly after Helen was born. Helen was...

Nov 14, 2022

Emily Soto, age 9, of Portage passed away on November 14, 2022. She was born on March 6, 2013 in Merrillville, Indiana.

Emily was a light in everyone's life, full of kindness, compassion, and joy. She brought happiness to everyone she knew. Her favorite color was green and her favorite number was 5. Emily was baptized December...

Nov 14, 2022

Reverend Frank D. Torres, age 70 of Hebron passed away Monday, November 14, 2022 at Franciscan Hospital in Crown Point. He was born on May 7, 1952 in Gary, Indiana to the late Vernabe and Jennie Torres. He served his country as a member of the United States Navy. He dedicated his life to the service of his community....

Nov 13, 2022

Kathy Lee Byrum (nee Timpe), age 75, of Hobart, IN, passed away at home  on Sunday, November 13, 2022.

Kathy was born on April 17, 1947 in Chicago, IL to the late Lawrence and Anita (nee Taffel) Timpe.  She took great care of her loving family and her home.

Kathy is survived by her children:...

Nov 11, 2022

Vivian Alley, age 92, of Portage passed away Friday November 11, 2022, at Northwest Health Porter in Valparaiso, Indiana. Vivian was born August 27, 1930, in East Chicago, Indiana to the late George and Mary (Mirkov) Regenovich. She retired from St Mary Medical Center where she worked as a Ward Clerk on the 3 rd Floor. She then worked...

Nov 10, 2022

Lenore Marie Espinosa, age 74, of Merrillville passed away Thursday November 10, 2022. Lenore was born June 11, 1948, in Gary, Indiana to the late Bobby Dean and Evelyn (Klug) Etherton. She retired as a purchasing agent from Amtrak. On November 14, 1987, she married the love of her life Mike Espinosa. She enjoyed knitting, cooking, watching movies, and...

Nov 8, 2022

Lauren Rose Thompson (nee MacKenzie), 24, of Valparaiso, a beautiful young soul, died in a car accident on November 8, 2022. Lauren was born on December 3, 1997 to her parents, Scott Mackenzie and Dawn Kissel, in Munster, Indiana. On July 9, 2022, Lauren married her high school sweetheart, best friend, and love of her life, Tyler Thompson. Lauren loved...

Nov 6, 2022

Wanda A. Lush-Westbury (nee Daugherty), age 89 of Portage passed away Sunday, November 6, 2022. She was born on May 3, 1933 in Hartford, Kentucky to the late William and Pearl Daugherty.  On May 6, 1977, she married Donald Westbury in Gary, Indiana. She was a life member of the VFW Post #9323 Ladies Auxiliary. Wanda dedicated her life...

Nov 6, 2022

Grace Eleanor Jenkins, 97, is now joyously walking the streets of gold. Grace's Lord and Savior called her home on November 06, 2022, as she rested comfortably at home, surrounded by her loving family. Born February 2, 1925, to Grant E. Hunsley and Adah I. (Knope) Hunsley in Hanna, Indiana, Grace was a 1943 graduate of Rolling Prairie High...

Nov 5, 2022

James C. "Jaime" DelValle, age 82, of Hobart, IN passed away surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

Jaime was born on September 25, 1940 in Puerto Rico to the late Julio and Felicita (nee Vazquez) DelValle.  He worked as a laborer for EJ&E Railroad with over 33 years of experience.  Jaime married the...

Nov 5, 2022

Casper W. 'Cas' Wiseman, age 95 of Hobart passed away Saturday, November 5, 2022. He was born on November 29, 1926 in Mauckport, Indiana to the late Lee and Nola Wiseman. Cas proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army during WWII. He graduated from the Purdue University School of Pharmacy and owned and operated...

Nov 4, 2022

MARCIA ANN WRIGHT OF PORTAGE, IN / FORMERLY OF WALKERTON, IN. Marcia passed away Friday November 4th, 2022. She is survived by her six children Kenneth Wright, Sheryl (Ed) Wright, Christopher (Roxanne) Wright, James (Angie) Wright, Richard (Kelly) Wright, Rebecca Wright, three siblings Barbara (Frank) Salcedo, Carol (Tom) Topor and David (Jane) Gajda. Grandchildren Angela (Andrew) Magana-Fleck, Mark (Christine)...

Nov 2, 2022

Dolores Chelf

Dolores Jean Chelf was born 29 Dec, 1926 in the Garyton portion of what is now Portage, Indiana. The youngest of three children, she was the only daughter of Bertha Chelf (neé Foreman) and Edgar Chelf. In the 1950s, she began working as a clerk, and even in her later years, worked for the unemployment...

Nov 2, 2022

Dawn R. Hyde, age 64, of LaPorte and formerly of Portage passed away Wednesday November 2, 2022, at the Brickyard Health Center in LaPorte. Dawn was born March 17, 1958, in Gary, Indiana to the late    Rolland Lawson and Betty McKittrick. She was later adopted by Frank Hyde. Dawn was a Licensed Practical Nurse who truly loved her profession....

Nov 2, 2022

Robert Hughes, age 68, of Portage passed away Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at St Mary's Medical Center in Hobart. Robert was born March 8, 1954, in Washington, Pennsylvania to the late Edward and Blanche P. (nee Park) Hughes. Robert retired from US Steel after many years in the heating and air conditioning department.

He is survived by...

Nov 1, 2022

Dorothy Whitaker

Age 74, of Portage, passed away Tuesday, November 1,2022. She was born on January 3,1948 to the late Eugene and Melbra (nee Hayes) Meadows. She worked and retired from USS, where she worked as a steelworker.  Dorothy enjoyed visiting the Portage dog park, the Bonner Senior Center and going to lunch gatherings at Miller's Mary...

Oct 31, 2022

Robert "Bob" W. Johnson of Hobart, Indiana passed away on October 31, 2022, after a battle with leukemia. Bob was born in Hammond, Indiana on January 21 st , 1943, to Ernest and Ruth (Albin) Johnson. After graduating from high school, Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force and served until 1966. Soon after, he became a top...

Oct 30, 2022

Linda L. Brennan, of Portage, IN, passed away on Sunday, October 30, 2022 in Crown Point, IN.  Linda was born on November 6, 1943 to the late John V. and Alice (nee Hopkins) Jackson in Oswego, New York.  She worked as a Telemarketing Manager for many years with General Electric and other firms.  Linda's interests in life were varied; she...

Oct 28, 2022

Bobby "Joe" Childers, age 64 a longtime Lake Station resident passed away Friday, October 28, 2022.  He was born on October 31, 1957 in Hammond Indiana to the late Alvin B. and Barbara J. Childers, Sr.. Joe worked at Arcelor Mittal and retired in 2012.  He was an Avid Cubs and Bears fan and loved his family dearly.  Joe...

Oct 28, 2022

Steven Edward Miller, age 23 of Portage passed away Friday, October 28, 2022. He was born on July 25, 1999 in Valparaiso to Scott and Denise Miller. Steven was a 2019 graduate of Valparaiso High School and currently worked as a laborer. Steven liked to build computers and work on them in his free-time. He was a talented artist...