obituaries

Jan 30, 2022

EUGENE H."GENE" WILSON, age 94, of Portage, Indiana, and formerly of Hobart, passed away Sunday, January 30, 2022, at the VNA Hospice Center in Valparaiso.  Gene was born on August 15, 1927, in Blainesburg, Pennsylvania. He proudly served his country in the US Navy in 1945 and 1946.   He worked as Superintendent of Coke Works at US...

Jan 30, 2022

Martin P. DeBray, age 80  of Hobart and formerly a longtime Lake Station resident passed away Sunday, January 30, 2022.  He was born on July 21, 1941 in Redding, California to the late Martin and Bernice DeBray.  Martin served his country in the U.S. Marines.  He had worked as an independent Truck Driver.

He is survived by...

Jan 30, 2022

John R. Torres, age 74, of Hobart, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, January 30, 2022 at St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart after a severe injury.  He was born in Gary, Indiana on September 4, 1947 to the late Juan and Margie (nee Stringer) Torres.  He was a longtime employee of Westmont Steel.

John is survived by...

Jan 30, 2022

Johnnie Leon Hall, Sr., age 58, passed away Sunday, January 30, 2022.  He was born in Hammond, Indiana on January 19, 1964 to the late Jimmy and Judy Hall.  He loved fishing, music and was a movie buff.

Johnnie is survived by the mother of four of his children: Patricia Hall; children, Johnnie (Dana) L. Hall, Jr.,...

Jan 30, 2022

Helen M. Breitsprecher (nee Spoor), age 95 of LaPorte formerly of Hobart passed away Sunday, January 30, 2022.  She was born on February 23, 1926 to the late Vernon and Carrie Spoor.  Helen was a member of the Michigan Avenue United Methodist Church of Hobart, the New Chicago Post 454 American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and the Hobart VFW Post...

Jan 29, 2022

Elaine M. Erickson, age 90 of Crown Point, passed away Saturday, January 29, 2022. She was born on January 1, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Ranard and Florence Erickson. She proudly served her country as a member of the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1955.  Elaine had a love for dogs and enjoyed breeding and raising...

Jan 28, 2022

Juan Manuel Duron "John" (Papa, Meme), of Portage, was called to be with the Lord on January 28th, 2022 at the age of 85. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones. We will continue to celebrate his life and the truly incredible example of love that he showed us always. John was born on November 3rd,...

Jan 27, 2022

Henry Russell Kettwig, age 73, of Portage passed away Thursday January 27, 2022, in his home.  Henry was born March 9, 1948, in Gary, Indiana to the late Henry "Hank" and Doris (Hill) Kettwig.  Henry was a retired truck driver that worked for Illiana Waste Transfer Services.  He loved drag racing, fishing and a good meal with friends.

Jan 25, 2022

Kristina M. Kopanski (nee Golumbeck), age 60 of Hobart passed away Tuesday, January 25, 2022. She was born on March 8, 1961 in Gary, Indiana to Leslie and Charlene Golumbeck. On January 28, 2000, she married Timothy Kopanski in Portage, Indiana. Kristina enjoyed listening to music. Above all, she loved her grandkids and cherished the time she spent with...

Jan 25, 2022

Daniel J. Bernier, age 55, of Valparaiso, IN, passed away on Tuesday, January 25, 2022.

Dan was born on September 7, 1966 in Chicago, IL to the late Joe Bernier and Barbara (nee Pipp) Lindich.  Daniel worked as a carpenter for Smith Family Services and Union Local #1.

He was known by many names: Danny,...

Jan 23, 2022

Poochie (Wilma) Steele, age 76, of Hobart, passed away Sunday, January 23, 2022 at St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart. She was born in Gary, Indiana on October 4, 1945 to the late George and Leslie (nee Evans) Parnell.  She had special memories with her husband driving racecars and motorcycles, dancing, and going camping.  She loved spending the holidays...

Jan 22, 2022

Norman Dale Ohlschlager, age 93 of Portage, passed away Saturday, January 22, 2022 at St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart.  He retired from US Steel where he worked as a crane operator.

Norman is survived by his three daughters: Kimberly (Terry) Hunt of Portage, IN, Evelyn (John) Marthakis of FL, Pamela Wheeler of Everett, WA; five grandchildren:...

Jan 22, 2022

SHIRLEY A. WIGGINS, age 84, of Hobart, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, January 22, 2022.  She was born in Gary to the late Roy and Nell Keele on February 12, 1937.  Shirley was a para educator for the Title I Program with River Forest School District.  The school was a home away from home where she was...

Jan 20, 2022

Eloise A. Rodriguez, age 56, of Valparaiso, passed away January 20,2022 at her home.  She was born in East Chicago, Indiana on October 29,1965 to the Xavier and the late Cecelia S. (nee Espinosa) Rodriguez. She was a Crown Point High school graduate and worked at Dollar General as a cashier. Eloise loved the time she spent with her...

Jan 19, 2022

Sierra Monyk Evans, age 30 of Portage passed away Wednesday, January 19, 2022. She was born on November 24,1991 in Defiance, Ohio to Leonard and Deborah Evans. She loved spending her time with nieces and her family; she enjoyed singing, writing, reading, traveling, and doing make-up. She will always be remembered as a loving daughter, sister, aunt, fiancée, and...

Jan 19, 2022

Carolyn M. (Thompson) Mills, age 85 passed away Wednesday, January 19, 2022. She was born on May 30, 1936 in Gary, Indiana to the late Earl and Grethel Thompson. On September 18, 1953 she married Lawrence Mills in Lake Station. Carolyn was a dedicated member of Grace Church of the Nazarene where she sang in the church choir and...

Jan 19, 2022

George C. Buzinec, age 72 a longtime Hobart resident passed away Wednesday, January 19, 2022.  He was born on September 4, 1949 in Pennsylvania.  George was the owner and operator of Performance Auto in Hobart.  He had a passion for working on and collecting cars.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Buzinec of Hobart, IN; one...

Jan 19, 2022

Shirley Darlene Hale, age 74, of Hobart, IN and formerly of Hebron, IN, passed away on Wednesday, January 19, 2022.

Shirley was born on September 20, 1947 in Bedford, IN to the late Lawrence Casada and Dorothy (Anderson) Davis.  Shirley worked for many different businesses including Gary Steel Products, the Post Tribune, Stardust Lounge in Hobart, Old...

Jan 19, 2022

Wilfredo "Freddy" Sánchez, age 60, of Gary passed away Wednesday, January 19, 2022.  He was born in Gary, Indiana in the backseat of a 1957 Chevy on April 9, 1961 to Tomas and Maria (nee Miranda) Sánchez.

Freddy was a unique, interesting, one-of-a-kind man. If you met Freddy, you never forgot him.  He was authentic, genuine and...

Jan 17, 2022

Rodney E. Carnahan, age 66, of Portage passed away Monday, January 17,2022, at his home.  He was born November 8, 1955, in Valparaiso, Indiana to the late Charles E. and Ruth (nee Rader) Carnahan. He retired from Bethlehem Steel, where he worked as a Crane Operator. Rodney enjoyed playing his guitar and will be remembered as a loving father,...