Teddy Richard Garrity
Dec 14, 2025
Teddy Richard Garrity
Age 69, a forty-year resident of Portage, Indiana passed away Sunday, December 14, 2025.He was born on July 28, 1956, to the late James and Gladys (nee Ansell) Garrity. Teddy was a 1974 graduate of Wirt High School and retired from Leads where he worked as a metallurgical technician. He proudly served his country in the United States...
Christian Michael Wedding
May 30, 2026
Christian Michael Wedding, age 50, of Portage, passed away Saturday, May 30, 2026, at home. He was born on January 2, 1976, in Hammond, Indiana.
A devoted follower of Christ, Christian found great purpose in traveling with Christafari missionaries, sharing the message and love of Jesus with others. He loved playing guitar and had a deep appreciation for music, especially the...
Angela Talmadge
May 28, 2026
Angela Talmadge, age 66, of Portage, Indiana, passed away on May 28, 2026. She was born on May 1, 1960, in Wichita Falls , Texas, to the late Stanley and Pilar (nee Picazo) Razmus. On June 29, 1997, she married the love of her life, William Talmadge, in Munster, Indiana. Angela was a devoted homemaker who dedicated her life to...
Bill Raftopoulos
May 25, 2026
Bill Raftopoulos, age 88, of Miller, passed away Monday, May 25, 2026, in his home. Bill was born May 25, 1938, in Aigion, Greece to the late Panagiotis and Theodora (Thomas) Raftopoulos. He worked at Inland Steel as a crane operator and was a barber for over forty years. Bill came from a family of barbers. He was a veteran...
Patricia Carol Pecher
May 25, 2026
Patricia Carol Pecher (Rabe), age 77, of Portage, passed away Monday, May 25, 2026. She was born on February 26, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois, to the late Edward and Margaret Rabe. On April 16, 1966, she married Robert Pecher in Chicago, Illinois.
Pat dedicated her life to caring for her family and made it a priority to be involved in all...
Jeanette Niepokoj Kesel
May 25, 2026
Jeanette Kesel (nee Niepokoj), age 97, of Crown Point, passed away peacefully at home on May 25, 2026. She was born on July 10, 1928, in Gary, Indiana, to the late Stanley and Sophie Niepokoj. Jeanette graduated from Emerson High School in 1947. On July 16, 1949, she married Stanley M. Kesel, Jr., in Gary, Indiana.
Jeanette was a dedicated member...
George C. Drowns
May 24, 2026
George C. Drowns, age 56, of Lake Station passed away Sunday May 24, 2026, at St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart. George was born November 11, 1969, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Carlos Lartundo and Beverly Drowns. George was an avid Chicago Bears and Chicago Blackhawks fan.
George is survived by four children, Damien Drowns, Autumn Drowns, Zoe Drowns, and...
Richard Pacheco
May 22, 2026
Richard Pacheco, age 70, of Portage, passed away Friday, May 22, 2026. He was born on August 15, 1955, in East Chicago, Indiana, to the late Isreal and Edna Pacheco. On July 20, 2011, he married Elena Rodriguez in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Richard retired from ArcelorMittal, where he worked on the pickle line. He was a hardworking man who also loved...
Martha L. Collins
May 21, 2026
Martha Collins, age 82, of Hobart, passed away peacefully on May 21, 2026, at Brickyard Healthcare. She was born on July 7, 1943, to the late Glenn and Irene Collins (née Richman). Martha dedicated her life to education and touched the lives of countless students throughout her career. She taught for three years in California before joining the Merrillville Community...
David Allen Clark
May 18, 2026
David Allen Clark, age 82, of Valparaiso, and formerly of Portage, passed away Monday, May 18, 2026. He was born on March 6, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Carl and Evelyn Clark. Dave proudly served his country in the United States Army. He was a self-employed photographer whose creative eye and passion for his work touched many throughout...
Zachary Ben Wathern
May 17, 2026
Zachary Ben Wathern, age 63 a longtime Portage resident passed away Sunday, May 17, 2026. He was born on March 2, 1963 in Martinsville, Indiana to the late Benjamin and Lillian Wathern. Zachary worked as a Heavy Equipment Operator for Yellow Freight. He enjoyed sketch drawing and also enjoyed working with his hands. Zachary’s favorite pastime was making people laugh.
He...
Cory Joseph Michael Shane
May 17, 2026
Cory Joseph Michael Shane, age 34, of Portage passed away suddenly on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at his home in Portage. Cory was born August 24, 1991, in Valparaiso, Indiana to Victoria and Eric (Norman) Shane. He worked in the auto department at Walmart. He was the family jokester, he loved his family, fantasy football, sports of all kinds, and...
Anthony "Tony" Wilson
May 16, 2026
Anthony “Tony” Wilson, age 61 a lifetime Lake Station resident passed away Saturday, May 16, 2026. He was born on May 28, 1964 in Valparaiso, Indiana to the late George and Flemenia Wilson. Tony worked as a roofer and construction worker. He enjoyed playing the guitar and played gigs in the area. Tony was a member of St. Francis Xavier...
Stanley T. Lesczynske
May 15, 2026
Stanley T. Lesczynske, age 67, of Hobart, passed away Friday, May 15, 2026, at home. He was born on September 14, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, to the late Adolph and Florence Lesczynske. Stan retired from Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 692, where he worked for many years as a concrete finisher.
“Stan the Man,” as he was affectionately known, enjoyed the...
Martin E. Riley
May 13, 2026
Martin E. Riley, age 86, of Portage, passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at home surrounded by his family. He was born on April 23, 1940, in East Chicago, Indiana, to the late Henry and Sue Riley. Martin was a 1958 graduate of Portage High School and served his country in the United States Army. He worked as an oiler...
Hubert A. Greenwell Jr.
May 12, 2026
Hubert A. Greenwell Jr., age 71, of Portage, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2026. He was born on November 24, 1954, in Terre Haute, Indiana to the late Hubert A. Greenwell Sr. and Anna Frances (nee Polick) Greenwell. Hubert married, Charlotte Ruth (nee Witt) Greenwell, in Hobart in 1999.
Hubert retired from Mittal Steel after 42 years of dedicated service. He...
Denise M. Hogan
May 12, 2026
DENISE M. HOGAN, age 74, of Valparaiso, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on September 29, 1951, in Los Angeles to the late Duane and Dorothy (née Bulkley) Cameron. Denise may not have had great wealth, but she gave from the heart and was always willing to help others whenever...
Frank Walter Westerlund, Jr.
May 9, 2026
Frank Walter Westerlund, Jr., age 89, of Lake Station, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2026. He was born on February 28, 1937, at home in New Chicago to the late Frank Walter and Bertha Mae Westerlund. On September 30, 1961, he married Patricia Zajac at St. Francis Xavier Church.
Frank was a self-employed electrician for more than 35 years. His hands...
Irene A. Czaja
May 8, 2026
Irene A. Czaja, age 97, passed away peacefully on May 8, 2026, at Crown Point Health Campus.She was born on June 21, 1928, in Gary, Indiana, to the late Albert and Sophie (nee Wisneski) Gemeinhart. Irene was a feisty, strong, and opinionated woman whose determination carried her through many illnesses and challenges throughout her life. Despite everything she endured, her...
Sally Wishmeyer
May 8, 2026
Sally Wishmeyer, age 92, of Valparaiso, passed away Friday, May 8, 2026. She was born on April 10, 1934, in Gary, Indiana to the late Jesus and Micaela (nee Rodriguez) Contreraz. Sally was a 1952 graduate of Lew Wallace High School and retired from Kemper Insurance after 37 years of dedicated service as a marketing manager. Sally was the glue...
