Margaret E. Kelly
Oct 21, 2026
Margaret E. Kelly of Portage, IN passed away Wednesday, October 21, 2026. She was a coach and physical education teacher at Hammond Gavit, retiring in 1993. Margaret was inducted into Indiana’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. She coached her teams to victory in 6 volleyball sectionals, 3 regional titles in basketball, volleyball, and soft ball. Her teams were three-time...
Mary Louise Littell
Oct 17, 2026
Mary Littell, age 84, of Star City, Indiana, passed away Saturday, October 17, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on February 21, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois, to the late Fredrick and Florence (nee Williams) Hull.
Mary was a devoted homemaker who dedicated her life to caring for her family and making a loving home. On November 15, 1960,...
Mary "Cookie" Messer
Oct 10, 2026
Mary Irene (Najar) Messer of Portage, Indiana, passed away at age 87 on October 10.Known lovingly to family and friends as Cookie, she was born on July 6, 1939 in Gary, Indiana to Bernardo and Mary (Gregor) Najar. She attended Edison High School and proudly worked at Midwest Products for nearly 25 years. In retirement, Cookie could be found either...
Ruth Oros
Oct 4, 2026
RUTH M. OROS, age 92, of Winfield, passed away Sunday, October 4, 2026. She was born in East Chicago on February 17, 1934. Ruth was a graduate of E.C. Roosevelt High School. Ruth and her late husband were co-owners of Sibley Jewelers in Hammond from 1975 to 1983. She worked for many years as a secretary at the People’s Bank...
Rev. David George Nowak
Oct 16, 2026
Reverend David George Nowak, age 72 of Portage, Indiana, a priest of the Diocese of Gary, died on October 16, 2026. He was born in Elkhart, Indiana, the son of Eugene H. Nowak and Judith Ann Tyuty Nowak.
Father Nowak was ordained to the priesthood on May 4, 1985, at St. Thomas More in Munster. From 1985-1990, he served at St....
Harry O. Lindsay
Oct 19, 2026
Harry O. Lindsay, age 75, of Hobart passed away Monday October 19, 2026, at the St Mary Medical Center in Hobart. Harry was born May 27, 1951, in Gary, Indiana to the late Harold and Delores (Blacka) Lindsay. Harry was a Steel Worker that began his career at Bethlehem Steel and retired from Cleveland Cliffs. He was a US Army...
Glenn A. White
Oct 19, 2026
Glenn A. White, age 93, of Hobart, passed away on Monday, October 19, 2026, just three days shy of his 94th birthday. He was born on October 22, 1932, in Clay City, Indiana, to the late Gerald and Lola White.
Glenn proudly served his country in the United States Army. In 1958, he married Mary Sweeney in Southern Indiana. Glenn retired...
Vivian A. Dallas
Oct 18, 2026
Vivian A. Dallas, age 80, of Wanatah passed away Sunday October 18, 2026, at Northwest Health-Porter in Valparaiso. Vivian was born November 24, 1945, in Harrisburg, Illinois to the late Alvin and Ora May (Bank) Hickey. Vivian retired from the USW Local Union #6787 where she worked as a bookkeeper. Vivian will be missed by her loving family.
Vivian is survived...
Caroline Kay Zonder
Oct 14, 2026
Caroline Kay Zonder, age 76, of Portage, passed away Wednesday, October 14, 2026. She was born on April 7, 1950, in Gary, Indiana, to the late Steve and Marianna (nee Courtney) Czilli.
Caroline retired from the Bowman, Heintz, Boscia & Vician law office, where she worked as a clerk. On August 11, 1972, she married the love of her life, Lawrence...
Barbara "Barb" Hargrove
Oct 13, 2026
Barbara “Barb” Hargrove, age 63, of Hobart passed away in her home Monday October 13, 2026. Barbara was born in Monterey, California to William and Barbara (Czilli) Mills. She was a retired Agency Surgical Technician that worked at the Christ Advocate Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Barb loved brunch with her family and spending time with her friends. A...
Donald VanMeter
Oct 11, 2026
Donald VanMeter, age 86, of Youngstown/North Jackson, Ohio, passed away Sunday, October 11, 2026. He was born on September 11, 1940, in Pomeroy, Ohio, to the late Richard and Una VanMeter.
Don proudly served his country in the United States Navy before retiring from LTV Steel, where he worked as a yardmaster. He was a dedicated member of Argus Masonic Lodge...
Marie Turnbull
Oct 8, 2026
MARIE TURNBULL, age 72 of Valparaiso, and formerly of Portage, passed away Thursday, October 8, 2026. She was born on August 9, 1954 to the late Eugene and Joanne Raczkowski. Marie formerly worked as an insert operator for Mid-America Mailers. She loved BINGO, gambling, the color purple, and Elmo. Marie was always ready for a party and some good music,...
Matthew Douglas Ames
Oct 8, 2026
Matthew Douglas Ames, age 28, a longtime Hobart resident, passed away Thursday, October 8, 2026. He was born on May 14, 1998, in Munster, Indiana. Matthew loved fishing, video gaming, and he enjoyed spending time with family and friends.
He is survived by his father, Joel Douglas Ames of Hobart, IN; mother, Angela (Jason) Klee of Dyer, IN; one sister, Elizabeth...
Cheryl Jo Lauber
Oct 5, 2026
Cheryl Jo Lauber, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, and friend, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the age of 70. She was born on October 2, 1956.
Cheryl was a dedicated teacher’s aide at Clark Middle School in St. John. She was known for her patience, understanding, and genuine compassion for her students. She especially embraced learning new...
Marvin L. Hotkiewicz
Oct 5, 2026
MARVIN L. HOTKIEWICZ, age 81, of Frankfort, IL, passed away Monday, October 5, 2026. He was born in Hammond. Marvin retired from Electromotive after many years of service building locomotives. He loved the outdoors, trap shooting and was an avid fisherman.
Marvin is survived by his 2 children, JoAnn (Sam) Azar and Stephen Hotkiewicz; 8 grandchildren, Rebecca (Ben) Pollock, Jamil (Brittany)...
Linda Sue Butler
Oct 5, 2026
Linda Sue Butler, age 74, of Valparaiso passed away Monday October 5, 2026, at the Life Care Center of Valparaiso. Linda was born July 21, 1952, in Gary, Indiana to the late Wilfred “Bill” (Owner of Bill’s Heating and Cooling) and Ruth (Crussen) Butler. She was a retired teamster that drove vans for Tri-State Bus Company. She also was an...
Robert E. Frazier
Oct 4, 2026
ROBERT E. FRAZIER, age 79, of Merrillville, passed away Sunday, October 4, 2026. He was born on March 11, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois. He was a graduate of Lew Wallace High School and a Vietnam Veteran who served in the US Army. Robert retired from Frito Lay after working many years in sales. He was an enthusiastic sports fan and...
Gerald V. Hall
Oct 4, 2026
Gerald V. Hall, age 78, of Portage passed away Sunday October 4, 2026, in the Northwest Health-Porter in Valparaiso, Indiana. Gerald was born November 15, 1947, in Gary, Indiana to the late Harry and Cora Bell (Koehler) Hall. Gerald was a retired Steel Worker that worked for LTV Steel. Gerald was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ...
Stephen L. Franko
Oct 2, 2026
Stephen L. “Spike” Franko, age 86, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 2, 2026, at Northwest Health – Porter. Stephen was born on November 16, 1939, in Gary, IN., to the late Stephen and Lenora, Franko.
Stephen was a proud United States Navy veteran and a retired automotive parts salesman. Throughout his career, he worked for McAnary Ford, D & M...
Frank R. Arredondo
Oct 1, 2026
Frank R. Arredondo, age 73, passed away Thursday, October 1, 2026. Frank was a 1971 graduate of Mount Carmel High School. From an early age, Frank understood the value of hard work. He was very proud that he worked through high school to pay for his tuition at Mount Carmel, demonstrating the determination and independence that would define him throughout...
