obituaries

Aug 18, 2022

Ray Martin, age 84, of Hobart, passed away Thursday, August 18, 2022, at home. He was born on June 22, 1938, in Gary, Indiana to the late Dolph and Susan Martin. He retired from Republic Steel, where he worked as a roto test operator. Ray enjoyed watching sports, he was an avid Bears and Cubs fan and loved spending...

Aug 16, 2022

Kenneth Wayne David, age 71 of Hobart, passed away Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at VNA Hospice Center in Valparaiso. He was born on August 12, 1951 in Gary, Indiana to the late Kenneth and Lennie David. Ken owned and managed several auto body repair shops during his career. He had a passion for cars and enjoyed restoring them.  He...

Aug 14, 2022

Nicholas A. Kaminski, age 31, of Portage, IN passed away on Sunday, August 14, 2022.

Nick was born on September 20, 1990 in Valparaiso, IN to Larry and Debbie (nee Kaminski) Lee.  He  worked as a carpenter with his father's business Decks by Design.  Nick enjoyed woodworking and built things for his family and friends.  He liked...

Aug 14, 2022

Jacqueline "Jackie" Servaty, age 75 of Portage passed away Sunday August 14, 2022, at the Rittenhouse Village in Portage. She was born April 3, 1947, in Gary, Indiana to the late Stanley Wayne and Annabel Underwood. Jackie was retired from Porter Memorial Portage Hospital where she worked in many positions through the years. Her main focus in life was...

Aug 13, 2022

HAZEL JEAN HARKINS, age 92 of Portage, and formerly a longtime Hobart resident, passed away Saturday, August 13, 2022.  She was born in Dawson, PA on May 23, 1930 to the late Clarence Edward and Maria Belle Keffer. Jean married Robert Jack Harkins on August 15, 1946 in Dawson, PA. They later moved to Hobart in 1962. Jean had...

Aug 12, 2022

Peter J. Zarantonello, age 88 of Valparaiso, passed away peacefully Friday, August 12, 2022 at St. Mary Medical Center after a valiant fight. Peter was born into a large family as the youngest of five children on September 3, 1933 in Michigan City, Indiana to the late John and Regina Zarantonello. Peter was raised in the Catholic Church serving...

Aug 12, 2022

Michael James Smith, age 53, of Hobart passed away Friday August 12, 2022. He was born November 23, 1968, to the late William and Darlene (Thorsky) Smith. Mike was a Union Carpenter working out of Local Union #272. Michael loved Bass Lake where he enjoyed Barefooting, Wake boarding, grilling, and listening to music (the louder the better). He loved...

Aug 12, 2022

On Friday, August 12, 2022, Myra Ruth Schafer (née Weeks), loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away in Valparaiso, Indiana at the age of 72. Myra was born in Gadsden, Alabama, on March 29, 1950.  Professionally, she excelled as one of the first female real estate appraisers in the State of Indiana. In her 45-year career, Myra was known...

Aug 12, 2022

Stanley Czaja Jr., age 71, of Hobart, IN, passed away on Friday, August 12,2022 with his family by his side. Stanley was born on May 29,1951, in Gary, Indiana to Stanley and Irene Ann (nee Gemeinhart) Czaja Sr.  He proudly served his country in the United States Army and was a member of the American Legion Post 260 in...

Aug 9, 2022

William L. Balogh "Billy", age 57 of New Chicago passed away Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at home. He was born on December 14, 1964 in Lorain, Ohio. He was employed as a machine operator. Billy had a passion for hot rods and classic cars. Above all he was a family man and he loved his grandchildren.  He will be...

Aug 9, 2022

George Albert Durko, age 81, a longtime Hobart resident passed away Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at the Towne Centre Assisted Living.  He was born on July 16, 1941 to the late Albert M. and Helen Durko.  He served his country in the U.S. Army. George was the owner and operator of Video Palace for more than 25 years.  He...

Aug 8, 2022

Thomas N. King, "Tom", age 63, a lifelong resident of Hobart, IN, passed away suddenly on Monday, August 8, 2022.

Tom was born on January 31, 1959 in Gary, IN to the late Duane and Marie (nee Kellen) King.  He was a graduate of Hobart High School, Class of 1977.  Tom worked as a crane operator with...

Aug 8, 2022

Jack Stafford, age 64, of Lake Station, passed away Monday, August 8, 2022. He was born on January 7, 1958, in East Chicago, Indiana to the late Bennie and Donna (nee Hankins) Stafford. On October 10, 1997, in Lake Station, Indiana, he married the love of his life, the late Kathern "Kathy" (nee MacKenzie) Stafford. He retired from Snapple...

Aug 6, 2022

Duane R. Sternberg, age 85, of Portage passed away Saturday August 6, 2022, at Northwest Health, Porter Campus. Duane was born April 5, 1937, in Bad Axe, Michigan to the late Oscar and Gertrude (Day) Sternberg. He was a steelworker and worked for Inland Steel/Cleveland Cliffs Steel. Duane was a life member of the Hobart Loyal Order of the...

Aug 6, 2022

Marian A. Leets, age 93, of Houston, TX and formerly of Hobart, IN, passed away on Saturday, August 6, 2022.

Marian was born on June 22, 1929 to the late Robert and Edna (nee Swanson) Anderson.  She was a graduate of Hobart High School, Class of 1946.

Marian married her husband of 69 years, William...

Aug 6, 2022

Richard Baron, age 87 of New Chicago passed away Saturday, August 6, 2022. He was born on August 13, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois to the late John and Bessie Baron. He proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army 82 nd Airborne Division. On April 24, 1965 he married Arlene Czekaj in New Chicago. He...

Aug 5, 2022

Lorene Contreraz (Nee Pitcock), age 92, of Portage and formerly Lake Station passed away Thursday August 4, 2022 at the Horton VNA Hospice Center in Valparaiso, Indiana. She was a homemaker, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother. Lorene loved her family, the outdoors, and her cats.

Lorene is survived by; nine children John Welbourne,...

Aug 1, 2022

Beverly "Jane" Hernandez, 84, of Hobart, Indiana, passed away surrounded by her husband and loved ones at her home on Monday, August 1, 2022. Jane was born on April 13th, 1938 to Virgil and Mary Sue Breedlove, in Henderson, Kentucky. On October 15th, 1957, she married the love of her life Rudy Hernandez, and they had four children, Regina,...

Aug 1, 2022

Jesse Joe Nugent, age 82, of Hobart, IN, passed away on Monday, August 1, 2022. Jesse was born on March 4, 1940, in Hawesville, KY to the late Joseph and Mellissa Ellen (nee Craft) Nugent.  He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps and in the United States Army. He retired from National Steel Midwest Division in...

Aug 1, 2022

John Allen Null, age 73 of Valparaiso passed away Monday, August 1, 2022. He was born on July 13, 1949 in Marion, Kentucky to the late John and Gladys Null. John proudly served his country as a member of the United States Marine Corps. He retired from local #150 where he worked as an Operating Engineer. He was a...