Zachary Ben Wathern
May 17, 2026
Zachary Ben Wathern, age 63 a longtime Portage resident passed away Sunday, May 17, 2026. He was born on March 2, 1963 in Martinsville, Indiana to the late Benjamin and Lillian Wathern. Zachary worked as a Heavy Equipment Operator for Yellow Freight. He enjoyed sketch drawing and also enjoyed working with his hands. Zachary’s favorite pastime was making people laugh.
He...
Cory Joseph Michael Shane
May 17, 2026
Cory Joseph Michael Shane, age 34, of Portage passed away suddenly on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at his home in Portage. Cory was born August 24, 1991, in Valparaiso, Indiana to Victoria and Eric (Norman) Shane. He worked in the auto department at Walmart. He was the family jokester, he loved his family, fantasy football, sports of all kinds, and...
Anthony "Tony" Wilson
May 16, 2026
Anthony “Tony” Wilson, age 61 a lifetime Lake Station resident passed away Saturday, May 16, 2026. He was born on May 28, 1964 in Valparaiso, Indiana to the late George and Flemenia Wilson. Tony worked as a roofer and construction worker. He enjoyed playing the guitar and played gigs in the area. Tony was a member of St. Francis Xavier...
Stanley T. Lesczynske
May 15, 2026
Stanley T. Lesczynske, age 67, of Hobart, passed away Friday, May 15, 2026, at home. He was born on September 14, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, to the late Adolph and Florence Lesczynske. Stan retired from Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 692, where he worked for many years as a concrete finisher.
“Stan the Man,” as he was affectionately known, enjoyed the...
Martin E. Riley
May 13, 2026
Martin E. Riley, age 86, of Portage, passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at home surrounded by his family. He was born on April 23, 1940, in East Chicago, Indiana, to the late Henry and Sue Riley. Martin was a 1958 graduate of Portage High School and served his country in the United States Army. He worked as an oiler...
Hubert A. Greenwell Jr.
May 12, 2026
Hubert A. Greenwell Jr., age 71, of Portage, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2026. He was born on November 24, 1954, in Terre Haute, Indiana to the late Hubert A. Greenwell Sr. and Anna Frances (nee Polick) Greenwell. Hubert married, Charlotte Ruth (nee Witt) Greenwell, in Hobart in 1999.
Hubert retired from Mittal Steel after 42 years of dedicated service. He...
Denise M. Hogan
May 12, 2026
DENISE M. HOGAN, age 74, of Valparaiso, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on September 29, 1951, in Los Angeles to the late Duane and Dorothy (née Bulkley) Cameron. Denise may not have had great wealth, but she gave from the heart and was always willing to help others whenever...
Frank Walter Westerlund, Jr.
May 9, 2026
Frank Walter Westerlund, Jr., age 89, of Lake Station, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2026. He was born on February 28, 1937, at home in New Chicago to the late Frank Walter and Bertha Mae Westerlund. On September 30, 1961, he married Patricia Zajac at St. Francis Xavier Church.
Frank was a self-employed electrician for more than 35 years. His hands...
Irene A. Czaja
May 8, 2026
Irene A. Czaja, age 97, passed away peacefully on May 8, 2026, at Crown Point Health Campus.She was born on June 21, 1928, in Gary, Indiana, to the late Albert and Sophie (nee Wisneski) Gemeinhart. Irene was a feisty, strong, and opinionated woman whose determination carried her through many illnesses and challenges throughout her life. Despite everything she endured, her...
Sally Wishmeyer
May 8, 2026
Sally Wishmeyer, age 92, of Valparaiso, passed away Friday, May 8, 2026. She was born on April 10, 1934, in Gary, Indiana to the late Jesus and Micaela (nee Rodriguez) Contreraz. Sally was a 1952 graduate of Lew Wallace High School and retired from Kemper Insurance after 37 years of dedicated service as a marketing manager. Sally was the glue...
Ljubica Pavleska
May 6, 2026
Ljubica Pavleska, age 86, passed away on May 6, 2026, in Merrillville, Indiana. Ljubica was born on March 18, 1940, in Velestovo, Macedonia, to the late Angele and Blaguna Krstanovska. On March 18, 1970, she married the love of her life, Pavle Pavleski, in Bitola, Macedonia, and they spent 48 loving years together until his passing in April of 2018.
Ljubica...
Evelyn P. Morton
May 5, 2026
Evelyn P. Morton (née Picon), age 96, of Portage, Indiana, passed away peacefully at her home on May 5, 2026. She was born on February 26, 1930, in Gary, Indiana, to the late Daniel and Edith (née Brewer) Picon. Evelyn was a proud graduate of Hobart High School, Class of 1949. She found joy in life’s simple pleasures, especially playing...
Carol Lee Hamilton
May 5, 2026
Carol Lee Hamilton, age 77, of Valparaiso, Indiana, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026, at Saint Mary Medical Center. She was born on December 5, 1948, in Gary, Indiana.
Carol was a proud graduate of Lew Wallace High School, Class of 1967. She dedicated many years as a bookkeeper at her late husband’s business, Jim’s Auto, where she was known...
Paul Kuiper Jr.
May 1, 2026
Paul Kuiper Jr., 82, of Valparaiso, Indiana, passed away on May 1, 2026. Born in Holland, Paul built a life defined by hard work, skill, and dedication. He spent his career at Ford Motor Company as a tool repairman, where his mechanical expertise and strong work ethic were well respected. A structural man by nature, Paul was known for his...
Shirley Ann Cosner
Apr 30, 2026
Shirley Ann Cosner, age 88, of Portage went to join her Lord and her husband in Heaven on Thursday April 30, 2026, at the Brickyard Healthcare of Portage. Shirley was born July 31, 1937, in Morgantown, West Virginia to the late Albert and Violet (Martin) Atkins. Shirley worked as a clerk for the Health Foods Nutrition Center, she drove bus...
Gerard Pajdzik
Apr 29, 2026
Gerard J. “Gerry” Pajdzik, 69, of Hobart, Indiana, born January 28th 1957, departed our world unexpectedly, April 29th 2026.In navigating the tragedy of his sudden absence, we celebrate Gerry as a pillar of strength to all who knew him. A follower of Christ, his profound character, authenticity, and desire to help others remind us in our moment of loss, just...
Linda N. Bugielski
Apr 28, 2026
Linda N. Bugielski, age 73 of Portage, Indiana, passed away Tuesday, April 28, 2026. She was born on April 26, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois, to the late Jesse and Alberta (nee Arnold) Myrick. Linda married the love of her life, Joseph Bugielski, on December 22, 1974. Together, they built a life centered around family, strength, and devotion. Linda spent much...
Cheryl Wilcox
Apr 26, 2026
Cheryl L. Wilcox, age 70, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 26, 2026. Cheryl is survived by her loving children, Christopher (Allison) Gomez and Jenifer (Jonathan) Bidart; her cherished grandchildren, Charlie, Jack, and Adeline Gomez, and Landon and Lucia Bidart; her sisters, Mary Gibson and Lisa (Dave) Howell; her nephew, Daniel (McKenna) Moro; her great nephew, Milo...
Peggy Lea Carns
Apr 25, 2026
Peggy Lea Carns, age 68, of Valparaiso, Indiana was born on May 18, 1957, in Gary, Indiana to the late Donald Bruce and Luetta (née Matthews) Hodge. Peggy was united with her beloved parents and met her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 25, 2026, after fighting a courageous six-year-long battle with severe lung disease.
Peggy married Michael “Moses” Carns...
Emil Ray Cripe
Apr 23, 2026
Emil Ray Cripe, age 78, of Portage passed away Thursday April 23, 2026, at Miller’s Merry Manor in Portage. Emil was born March 31, 1948, in Gary, Indiana to the late Richard Allen and Hilda (Olsen) Cripe, Sr. Emil was a welder and machine operator who retired from The House of Fara, Inc. in LaPorte, Indiana. He enjoyed making Jewelry,...
