obituaries

Oct 28, 2021

Mark Allen Behnke, 68, passed away suddenly at home on October 28, 2021. Mark was born on November 3,1953 in Gary, Indiana to the late Martin and June (Grotowski) Behnke. He was a proud graduate of Hobart High School in 1972, and achieved an associate degree in electronics. He was a lifelong resident of Hobart.

Mark worked...

Oct 27, 2021

Robert Sanyet, age 60, of Lake Station, passed away Wednesday, October 27, 2021.  He was born in Gary, Indiana on May 16,1961 to the late Joaquin and Gloria (nee Perez) Sanyet. Robert was a River Forest High School graduate, and a member of St. Francis Xavier Church in Lake Station, IN. He was employed by Valparaiso Community Schools where...

Oct 26, 2021

Kay Elizabeth Beltz (nee Vanderhoff), age 78 of Portage passed away Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at home. She was born on May 12, 1943 in Detroit, Michigan to the late Ernest and Jane Vanderhoff. On February 3, 1973, she married Donald Beltz in Warren, Michigan. She retired after 40 years of service as a teacher. She began teaching in...

Oct 25, 2021

Born January 7, 1932, Bud passed from his loved ones October 25, 2021. A graduate of Tolleston High School and Purdue University School of Pharmacy, Bud served in the US Army during the Korean War, and as chief of Pharmacy at St.

Mary Medical Center, Gary-Hobart, for over 20 years. He later worked at Lakeside VA hospital...

Oct 23, 2021

Laura J. Caruso

Age 96, of Hobart passed away Saturday, October 23, 2021 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born on March 14, 1925 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to the late John H. Costello and Laura M. (nee Granger) Costello. Laura dedicated her life to her family and enjoyed spending time with all of them....

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...