obituaries

Sep 5, 2022

Gerald "Jerry" Lee Phillips, Sr., age 80, of Portage, IN passed away on Monday, September 5, 2022.

Jerry was born on June 19, 1942 to the late Edward and Ethel Phillips.  He worked as a Master Machinist Mold Maker with Foster Forbes/Saint-Gobaine for over 30 years and retired in 2007.  He married Sandra Louise Gabor, on October...

Sep 4, 2022

Sharon L. Bodish (nee Sczepankiewicz), age 79 of Wheeler, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 4, 2022. She was born December 1,1943 in South Bend, Indiana to the late Matthew and Jean (nee Pyclik) Sczepankiewicz. Sharon was a 1962 South Bend, Washington High School graduate and that year she married Frank Bodish, the love of her life, on August...

Sep 4, 2022

Franklin D. Beshears, Sr., age 84, of Zionsville, IN and formerly of Portage, IN passed away on Sunday, September 4, 2022.

Franklin was born on January 14, 1938 to the late William and Annie (nee Prince) Beshears.  He worked as a Millwright with LTV Steel for over 35 years and retired in 2002.  He married the love...

Sep 2, 2022

BRENDA G. "DEBBIE" DRUMMOND, age 61, of Lowell, formerly of Hobart, passed away Friday, September 2, 2022, at St. Anthony Hospital in Crown Point. She was born on February 1, 1961, to the late James, Jr. and Myrtle Sipes.  Debbie was a painter who dedicated most of her time to her work.  She will be remembered as a devoted...

Sep 1, 2022

Frances Ellen "Fran" Haviza, age 58, of Valparaiso, IN passed away on Thursday, September 1, 2022.  Fran was born in Valparaiso, IN on October 31, 1963 to the late Roy Edward and Patricia Rae (nee Camp) Haviza.

Fran worked as an accountant for many years and also sold produce.  She was a devout Roman Catholic and attended...

Aug 30, 2022

Raleigh Allen "Al" Smallwood, age 39 of Lake Station passed away Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at home. He was born on April 26, 1983 in Merrillville, Indiana to Delbert and Roxanne Smallwood. Al was currently employed as a Millwright for Cleveland Cliffs. He graduated from Andrean High School in 2001 and was a dedicated member of Our Lady of...

Aug 29, 2022

David J. Farley, age 87, of Portage, IN passed away on Monday, August 29, 2022.

David was born in Gary, IN on March 14, 1935 to the late Ralph and Marian Farley. He retired after 46 years from the Post Tribune as a Plant Engineer doing all sorts of repairs on the machines.  In April of 1958,...

Aug 27, 2022

Irene Haines, age 93 of Valparaiso and formerly of Miller Beach passed away Saturday, August 27, 2022. She was born on November 20, 1928 in Gary to the late Stephen and Helen Cenko. She retired from the Gary Community School Corporation where she worked in the lunchroom for 26 years. She enjoyed working in her yard and feeding the...

Aug 26, 2022

SUSAN L. BURNS, age 72, of Lake Station, passed away Friday, August 26, 2022.  She was born on January 14, 1950 in Chicago, IL.  Susan was currently employed at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Visitor Center. She had a passion for birds and wildlife and took great joy in volunteering for the Moraine Ridge Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Valparaiso....

Aug 25, 2022

EDWARD LEE "ED" LIPINKSI, age 45, of Hobart, passed away Thursday, August 25, 2022.  He was born on July 8, 1977 in Hobart, Indiana.  Eddy lead a very colorful and adventurous life, and touched an incredible number of other lives as a host for "The Rocky Horror Show Picture Show," as a DJ at Deja Vu, and as a...

Aug 25, 2022

Leon E. Procopio, age 72, of Valparaiso and formerly of Hobart and New York passed away Thursday August 25, 2022.  He was born November 11, 1949, in Gary, Indiana to the late Bernard and Eleanor Rose (Phillips) Procopio. He was a retired Global Trader who formerly worked for John Hancock Insurance Company. He loved to cook and received a...

Aug 23, 2022

Evelyn M. Roberts-Ellis, age 95, of Portage, IN and formerly of Foster City, MI, passed away on August 23, 2022.

Evelyn was born on December 28, 1926 in Kenosha, WI to the late Arthur and Anna (nee Diles) Thoune.  She spent much of her life caring for others, whether it was caring for children, housecleaning, and continuing...

Aug 22, 2022

Richard D. Vanderlin, age 78, of Valparaiso, IN passed away Monday August 22, 2022, at Franciscan Health Michigan City, IN with family by his side.

Rich was born to Ralph and Margaretta (McGann) Vanderlin on December 23, 1943, in Kittanning, Pennsylvania. When he was twelve years old, he moved with the family to Lake Station, IN where...

Aug 22, 2022

Junior E.  Burton, age 74, of Lake Station passed away Monday, August 22, 2022 at St. Mary Medical Center. He was born January 28,1948 in Helena, Arkansas to the late Frank Earl and Clara Ophelia Burton. He enjoyed spending time with his family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He retired from Union Tank where he worked as a welder and...

Aug 22, 2022

Emma Jean Pavolich-Hughes, age 90 of Hobart passed away Monday, August 22, 2022 at home. She was born on March 1, 1932 in Bloomington, Illinois to the late James and Mary Embry.  Emma was employed as a Registered Nurse at Miller's Merry Manor. She was a dedicated member of Crown of Life Church in Hobart. Emma was a former...

Aug 22, 2022

Richard Varella Sr., age 82 of Hobart, Indiana passed away peacefully on Monday, August 22, 2022 at home.

He is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Varella; son, Richard Varella Jr.; grandsons, Jacob (Jen) Varella, Alec Nesmith and Nathan Betz; great grandchildren, Bailey and Jacob Varella; brother, Dan Varella; and loving nieces and nephews.

He...

Aug 22, 2022

Robert E. Scobee, age 85 a lifetime Hobart resident passed away Monday, August 22, 2022 at the William Riley Hospice Center in Munster.  He was born on June 24, 1937 in Gary, Indiana to the late Ely and Elsie Scobee.  Robert worked for Nipsco as a Special Projects Coordinator, retiring in 1993 after over 35 years of service.  He...

Aug 21, 2022

Carl L. Spurrier, age 67, of Portage, IN and formerly of Owensboro, KY, passed away suddenly on Sunday, August 21, 2022.

Carl was born on November 26, 1954 in Owensboro, KY to Carl F. and Mildred Spurrier.  He was a graduate of Calumet High School. He was a steelworker and Safety Chairman for the Local 1011 for...

Aug 19, 2022

Gerald "Skip" Norman Reese, age 84, of Valparaiso, IN, went peacefully home to be with the Lord on Friday, August 19, 2022. Skip was born on 1/6/1938 in Gary, IN to Gerald and Mildred Reese. He graduated from Hobart High School in 1957, was an Army veteran, a 20 year veteran of the Hobart Police Department, and went on to...

Aug 19, 2022

LEONA M. BECKER, age 98, of Salem, OR, and formerly a longtime Hobart, IN, resident, passed away Friday, August 19, 2022.  She was born in Bicknell, IN on July 2, 1924 to the late Paul and Adele Freville. She was a graduate of Clinton High School Class of 1942.  Leona married her husband of 43 years, Carl Becker on...