obituaries

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...

Aug 1, 2022

James Adom Collins, age 40, of Lake Station passed away Monday August 1, 2022.  He was born March 10, 1982, in Hobart, Indiana to the late Rickie Ray Collins and Deborah (Hugueley) Collins. He worked laying Asphalt for several companies. He was a loving son, brother, and father.

He is survived by his two sons, Andrew and...

Jul 31, 2022

LeRoy "Roy" Rappatta, age 90, of Portage and formerly of Lake Station, passed away on Sunday, July 31, 2022.

Roy was born on January 11, 1932 in Gary, IN to the late Benedict Rappatta and Ruth (nee Hutchinson) Seymour.  He served as a member of the National Guard.  Roy worked as a furnace heater at US Steel...

Jul 28, 2022

Dr. Michael Peter Livovich, Jr. of South Haven, Michigan, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 28, his 71st birthday, due to complications of cancer. Born to Michael Sr. and Loycene Livovich in Gary, Indiana, in 1951, he grew up quickly in responsibility, assisting his parents–his father, a disabled veteran, and his mother, deaf. He graduated from Portage High School in...

Jul 28, 2022

Carolyn R. Andersen, age 83, of Portage passed away Thursday July 28, 2022, in her home. She was born April 21, 1939, in New Port, Rhode Island to the late Ezra and Ellen (Dunbar) Hearson. Carolyn worked as a spark tester for Screw and Bolt a Division of Modulus Corp. She also worked for Eagle Services in Burns Harbor. ...

Jul 27, 2022

James Norman Shore Age 67, of Portage passed away Wednesday, July 27, 2022, after battling cancer and heart disease for over 12 yrs. He was born in Gary, Indiana to the late Glenn Norman and Anna (nee Bogdanich) Shore. He retired from Local 81 where he worked as a Laborer. On February 16, 2002, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee Jim married his...

Jul 26, 2022

Daniel M. Lustgarten, "Dan", age 61, living in Valparaiso, IN and having grown up in Portage, IN, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, July 26, 2022.

Dan was born on April 10, 1961 in Gary, IN to the late Raymond and Norma (nee Allen) Lustgarten.  He was a graduate of Portage High School, Class of 1980 and still...

Jul 26, 2022

DAVID MICHAEL "MIKE" NORDYKE, age 64, of Valparaiso, passed away Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at Northwest Health.  He was born on September 10, 1957, in East Chicago, IN.  Mike was a veteran of the US Navy and a retiree of Inland Steel. He enjoyed going to Michigan a lot, as well as drumming, camping and riding his motorcycle. Mike...