obituaries

May 18, 2021

DAVID R. FREDERICK, age 68, of Lake Station, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at home.  He was born on June 5, 1952 to the late John and Ruth Frederick.  David had previously worked for Praxair as a truck driver and was a retired volunteer Lake Station firefighter.  He was very involved at the American Legion Post...

May 18, 2021

Earl Wayne Fraley, age 74, of Portage and formerly of Lake Station passed away Tuesday, May 18, 2021, surrounded by his children. Earl was born to Pat and Vera Fraley in Diamond, Kentucky on September 11, 1946. Earl married his loving wife Shelby on April 30, 1966. Earl is a veteran of the United States Army and a retiree...

May 17, 2021

John Franklin Wheat "Big John", age 68, of Portage passed away Monday May 17, 2021 at the St Mary's Hospital in Hobart. He was born February 16, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois to the late John Dallas and Ann Aline (nee White) Wheat. John was a Diesel Mechanic that retired from Schneider National in Gary Indiana.  He enjoyed riding his...

May 17, 2021

Damon J. Hackett, age 26, of Chicago Heights and formerly of Hobart passed away Monday, May 17, 2021. He was born on February 17, 1995 in Merrillville, Indiana to Heather Hackett- Swan and Kenneth Swan. He was currently working as a fabricator for Tufts Grinding, Inc. in Chicago Heights. He was a very talented artist who enjoyed drawing and...

May 14, 2021

JOSEPHINE M. BOWMAN, age 94, of Portage, and formerly of Hobart, passed away Friday, May 14, 2021.  She was born on August 2, 1926 in Indiana Harbor, Indiana to the late Anthony and Franciska Smolenski.  Josephine married the late Carl Bowman on September 12, 1944. They were married for 47 years.  Josephine was involved in the 1960's as a...

May 14, 2021

Robert "Bob" Kutka, age 93, of Valparaiso and formerly of Portage, passed away on Friday, May 14, 2021.

Bob was born on September 28, 1927 in Milwaukee, WI to the late Anton and Marie Kutka.  A graduate of Marquette University, Bob was a CPA Auditor with US Steel for 35 years until his retirement in 1990. Bob...

May 13, 2021

Wilma M. O'Reilly (nee Schest), age 95, of Portage, was called to Heaven on Thursday, May 13, 2021.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Charles O'Reilly.

Wilma is survived by her 4 sons, John (Sylvia) O'Reilly of Denver, Colorado, Lenny (Stanley Ostaszewski) O'Reilly of San Diego, California, Frank (Laura Linnane)...

May 13, 2021

Robert "Bob" Szparaga, age 73, of Hobart, Indiana, loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and brother passed away on Thursday May 13, 2021. He was born on April 13, 1948 in Gary, Indiana to Sigusmund and Shirley Szparaga. On July 2, 1966 Bob married the love of his life Charlene. They have two loving children, Tim (Fiancé Ellen Purdy)...

May 10, 2021

Dennis W. Ahrens, age 70, of Lake Station passed away Monday May 10, 2021 at Franciscan Health, Crown Point.  Dennis was born August 13, 1950 in Gary, Indiana to the late Phillip and Leaotice Ahrens.  Dennis most recently worked as an armed security guard for NWI Security.  Dennis is survived by his daughter, Erica (Fiance` Brian D. Wood) Ahrens...

May 9, 2021

Maria Linda Calvillo

Age 53 of Hammond passed away at Community Hospital in Munster. She was born on December 31,1967 in Hammond, Indiana to the late Domingo and Betty (nee Wilson) Calvillo. Maria loved spending her time with her grandbabies, shopping, playing poker, going to the casino and food.  She will be remembered as a loving mother....

May 9, 2021

Richard Joseph ("Dick") Gilbertson, age 96, of Hobart, Indiana, passed away in his own home on May 9, 2021. He is survived by his wife Ella Gilbertson (née Georgeff); his children Sylvia Gilbertson (Camillo Castelnuovo), Jody Gilbertson, and Rick Gilbertson; his sisters Frances DuPey, Helen Sutton, and Nikkalynn Foster; his grandchildren Isabel Castelnuovo-Hoffman (Lee), Minor Stokes, Danny Gilbertson, and...

May 9, 2021

Gloria J. Gawron (nee Lacinski), age 79, of Portage and formerly of Hessville, passed away on Sunday, May 9, 2021.

Gloria was born on January 17, 1942 in East Chicago, IN to the late Chester and Ann (nee Ostovich) Lacinski.  She married Thaddeus "Ted" Gawron on April 20, 1963 and spent 52 years together until his death...

May 9, 2021

Sandra L. Farris, age 81, of Lake Station passed away Sunday, May 9, 2021. She was born on September 4, 1939 in Whiting, Indiana to the late Kenneth and Verna Comstock. She was a free spirit who loved animals, art, music and dancing. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. First a mother and forever...

May 9, 2021

Craig Allen Tisdale, age 60, of Portage passed away Sunday, May 9, 2021 at St. Mary Medical Center. He was born on October 24, 1960 in Harvey, Illinois to the late Robert Tisdale and Karen Pelot. Craig was a graduate of Portage High School. He loved eagles, Hot Wheels, WWE Wrestling and the Chicago Cubs. He will always be...

May 8, 2021

Franklin D. Gallian, age 85, of Hobart passed away Saturday, May 8, 2021 at his home. He was born on July 31, 1935 in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee to the late Buford and Bernice Gallian. On April 1, 1957 he married Yvonne Frederiksen in Iuka, Tennessee. Frank retired from US Steel where he worked as a machinist for 28 years. He...

May 8, 2021

Arthur E Thomason

(January 2, 1936 – May 8, 2021)

Arthur Eugene Thomason, age 85, of Bolivar, Missouri, formerly of Plainfield, IL, Chesterton and Wheatfield, IN, Morganton, GA and Streamwood, IL passed away Saturday, May 8 th , 2021 with his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter at his side. Arthur was born...

May 6, 2021

Robert K. Swims, age 60, of Hobart passed away Thursday, May 6 , 2021 at St Mary Medical Center.  He was born December 22, 1960 in Gary, Indiana.  Robert was a self-employed handy man. He will be remembered as a loving husband, son, brother, uncle, and friend.

Robert is survived by his wife, Kimberly; three stepchildren, Christina,...

May 4, 2021

John H. La Bounty passed away May 4, 2021, at his home in Westville, IN.

John retired as a teacher from Hobart Twp. Schools and Portage Adult Education. He was a member of Dunes Lodge #741, Elbert H. Gary Chapter #139, Elbert H. Gary Council #103, Elbert H. Gary Commandery #57, Knights of the York Cross of...

May 2, 2021

James Dean Baker, age 64, of Lake Station passed away tragically Sunday May 2, 2021.  James was born March 27, 1957 in North Vernon, Indiana.  He was a self-employed property manager and landlord.  He loved flipping houses, cars or just about anything that could be bought or sold.  James had the 'Gift of Gab", he enjoyed drinking his coffee...

May 1, 2021

Christine Bobrowski, age 71, formerly of Lake Station, Indiana passed away in Santa Rosa, California with family by her side on May 1, 2021.

She was born in Gary, Indiana on June 24, 1949 to Anthony and Barbara Bobrowski and the oldest of seven children.

Christine was a former member of Saint Francis Xavier Church,...