obituaries

Oct 23, 2021

Joan Turner Walker Smith, age 93, formerly of Hobart, passed away Saturday, October 23, 2021, living at Heritage Woods Assisted Living in Noblesville. She was born in Gary, Indiana on September 3, 1928 to the late Martin and Ruth Smith Turner. She graduated from Hobart High School in 1946, and also from the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in...

Oct 23, 2021

WILLIAM A. "BILL" McFALL, JR., age 61, of Lake Station, passed away Saturday, October 23, 2021.  He was born in Chicago, IL on July 13, 1960 to the late William A. and Mary Etta McFall, Sr. He was employed for many years at Inland Steel until he began an early retirement due to disability.  He will be remembered as...

Oct 20, 2021

David Chavez, age 42 of Portage, IN, passed away Wednesday, October 20, 2021. He was born on January 12, 1979 in Evergreen Park, IL, the son of Raymond and Alice Gill (nee Escobedo) Chavez. He was a graduate of Portage High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Purdue University in Lafayette. David was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. ...

Oct 20, 2021

Marguerite McKay (nee Patterson), age 82, of Lake Station, passed away on Wednesday, October 20, 2021.

Marguerite was born on December 6, 1938 in Gary, IN to the late Bill and Evelyn (nee Harries) Patterson.  She attended Edison High School, Class of 1957. Marguerite married Warren McKay in June of 1957 and spent 58 wonderful years together...

Oct 20, 2021

Judith A. Francis, age 79 of Portage passed away Wednesday, October 20, 2021.  She was born on November 15, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Jacob and Hazel Lytell.  Judith had worked for the Comfort Keepers as a Certified Nursing Assistant.  She was a member of the Bonner Senior Center and also volunteered for the United Way.  Judith...

Oct 20, 2021

Edward William Funkhouser "Bill", age 87, of Lake Station passed away Wednesday October 20, 2021with his family at his side.  Bill was born August 8, 1934, in Gary, Indiana to the late Edward M. and Margaret (Smith) Funkhouser.  He was a Teamster working out of Local Union #142 for Jack Gray Transportation. He was a member of St. Francis...

Oct 19, 2021

Christine Annette Houchens, age 54 a longtime Portage resident passed away Tuesday, October 19, 2021.  She was born on October 24, 1966 in Gary, Indiana.  Christine attended Chesterton High School and later went on to work as a Chiropractic Assistant in Portage.

She is survived by her mother, Carolyn Szalmasagi of Portage, IN; one son, Craig Houchens...

Oct 18, 2021

Charles "Rainey" "Chuck" R. Robertson, age 84, of Hobart, passed away Monday, October 18, 2021.  He was born in State Line, Mississippi on February 16, 1937 to the late Archie and Kate (nee Sowell) Robertson.  Chuck was a proud United States Army veteran.  He retired from NIPSCO in 1992 where he worked as a Building Maintenance Supervisor. He enjoyed...

Oct 18, 2021

Marianna Lee Klunder, age 80, of Portage passed away Monday October 18, 2021 in her home with her family at her side.  She was born March 6, 1941 in Gary, Indiana to the late Steve and Marianna (Courtney) Czilli. Marianna worked as a Coil Bander for Bethlehem Steel for over 33 years. She loved playing Bunco and shared that...

Oct 17, 2021

Jack G. Taillon, age 86, of Hobart, IN, passed away on Sunday, October 17, 2021.

Jack was born on March 23, 1935 in Gary, IN to the late Ernest and Bertha (nee Olafson) Taillon.  He was a graduate of Lew Wallace High School, Class of 1954.  Jack was a proud veteran of the Army and a true...

Oct 17, 2021

Cheryl Lynn Albers (nee Bloomingdale) passed away Sunday, October 17, 2021 after a brief illness.  Cheryl was born July 9, 1947 in Dayton, Ohio to the late Ewell and Lucille Bloomingdale.  A few months later, Cheryl and her family moved to the east side of Gary.  Cheryl graduated from Emerson High School, class of 1965, ranking 4 th in...

Oct 15, 2021

Brenda Kay Unland, age 78, of Hobart passed away Friday October 15, 2021, in her home with her family at her side. A lifelong resident of Northwest Indiana, Kay was born July 5, 1943 to the late Samuel and Marjorie (Dennis) Auxier in Gary, Indiana.  She was a bookkeeper for Unland and Sons and worked as the Secretary of...

Oct 14, 2021

Earldeen "Deenie" Chentnik (Peters), age 92 of Valparaiso passed away Thursday, October 14, 2021. She was born on November 30, 1928 in Midlothian, Illinois to the late Earl and Jennie Peters. On January 30, 1948 she married Joseph Chentnik in Gary, Indiana. Earldeen was a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church and she dedicated her life to...

Oct 13, 2021

Daniel W. Stano, age 71 of Lake Station passed away Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at Methodist Southlake Hospital. He was born on December 22, 1949 in Gary , Indiana to the late George and Lillian Stano. Daniel was retired from Nelson's Pro Auto in Portage where he worked for 25 years in automotive collision repair. He was an avid...

Oct 12, 2021

John "JJ" Johnson, age 83 of Portage, formerly of Merrillville passed away Tuesday, October 12, 2021.  He was born on September 19,1938 in Chicago, Illinois to the late John and Catherine N. (nee Lesko) Johnson. On September 23, 1978, John married his bride, Donna in Merrillville, Indiana. He proudly served his country in the United States Air-Force. He was...

Oct 12, 2021

Gregory Steven Johnson "Steve", age 70, of Valparaiso passed away Tuesday, October 12, 2021. He was born on August 11, 1951 in Gary, Indiana to the late John and Lorene Johnson. On July 11, 1970 he married Vicky Dewberry in Hobart, Indiana. He retired from American Steel Foundries and more recently from Filter Specialist where he worked as a...

Oct 10, 2021

Jill Allen (nee Schuman), age 72, passed away Sunday, October 10, 2021.  She was born in Gary, Indiana on September 2, 1949 to the late Joseph and Florence (nee Morse) Schuman.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Rees Funeral Homes, Hobart Chapel.

Oct 10, 2021

Robert G. Foster, age 72 a longtime Lake Station resident passed away Sunday, October 10, 2021.  He was born on August 13, 1949 in California to the late Robert G. and Margaret Foster.  He was retired and had worked as a Prison Guard at the Michigan City Prison for many years.   Robert loved fishing, collecting trains and cars, and...

Oct 10, 2021

Joan Pollak

January 13, 1931-October  10, 2021

Joan Pollak, formerly of Lakes of the Four Seasons, passed away October  10 at home.  Joan was born to Joseph and Clara (Filozof) Sapino.  Joan loved cooking, playing slots at the casinos, playing bingo, and also was a multi-talented crafter.  She...

Oct 9, 2021

Patricia Louise Goin, age 93, of Portage, passed away Saturday, October 9, 2021.  She was born in Gary, Indiana on January 31, 1928 to the late Vincent and Clara (nee Andersen) McGee.  Patricia will be remembered as a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

She is survived by her children, Karen (Roger) Butterfield, Kevin (Patricia)...