Constance Anabelle Zemkosky (nee Tholl), age 61 of St. John, IN passed away on February 18, 2019 after a short time in a coma caused by a heart defect. She was the devoted wife of Stanley “Stush” for 34 years, who had passed away on October 9, 2018. She is survived by her two children, Joseph and John (Heather), father Edward Tholl, mother Sharon Sullivan, sisters Lynda Tholl-Sisken (Larry), Laura Spinale (Vincent), Patricia Arnold and brother Edward Tholl, nieces Amberlee Venters (Robert), Deanna Spinale and Tyler Arnold and many, many cousins. Connie loved her family and worked hard for them. She loved to cook and was a big fan of…

George John Volan, M.D., F.A.C.S., passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019 in Schererville, Ind. Dr. Volan was born in Wad-Medani, Sudan in 1929. He attended college in Greece, graduating from the University of Athens Medical School. He came to the United States in 1956, where he interned in Jersey City and Atlanta before enrolling at the University of Louisville in 1958 to train in General Surgery, and to complete a fellowship in Surgery of the Hand. After marrying his wife Helen (née Voukidou) in 1960, they returned to Sudan in 1962 and Greece in 1963. They immigrated permanently to the U.S., settling in Northwest Indiana in 1964, where he…

Thomas H. Wainman, age 77, of Hobart, IN, passed away on February 15, 2019. He is survived by his daughter, Cheryl Ann Wainman of Portage; son, Thomas R. (Kara) Wainman of San Tan Valley, AZ; brothers, Mike (Caroline) Wainman of AL, John (Kathy) Wainman of SD, Robert (Irma, dec) of FL and Paul (Chris) of FL; sister, Mary Helen Wainman of Merrillville; grandchildren, Donovan Wainman and Ayden Collom and many nieces, nephews and friends. Preceded in death by his parents, William P. and Mary C. (nee Kelly) Wainman and his beloved wife of 43 years, Eleanor D. (nee Andrey) Wainman. Tom was a lifelong area resident. He graduated from Emerson…

Shaw W. Spurlock, 64, of Hobart, Indiana passed away on February 14th, 2019. He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Cheryl, loving daughter Tracy (Josh) K Coons, granddaughters; Alexis, Brooklyn and Caylee, mother; Virginia Spurlock, sister; Karen Spurlock, his buddy dog; Wrigley and friends and family. Shaw is preceded in death by his father; Shaw "Wayne" Spurlock, his sister-in-law; Donna "Dee" Maples and other family members. He retired after 29 years of service with the Lake County Sheriff Department as a Detective. He loved sports, his Cubbies, watching his granddaughter softball games and babysitting them. He loved his music. He was loved and will be missed by…

Gregory Williams, of LaPorte, passed away on February 10, 2019 at the age of 63. Greg was born in Gary, Indiana to Ernest and Shirley Williams and attended school in Merrillville. He married his cherished wife Viviane in May of 2009. Greg proudly served his country as a US Marine and was a dedicated millwright at Arcelor Mittal for more than 18 years. He was passionate about history, cars and trains, and spent hours in the garage working on his own cars. He truly loved life and was always looking forward to the next project. He loved the purr of an engine as much as he loved the purr of…

Fred C. Ahrens Jr., age 75, of Merrillville, IN passed away on Friday, February 1, 2019. He was born in Chicago, IL to Fred Sr. And Elizabeth (Schwenk) Ahrens who proceeded him in death. Fred is survived by his loving daughters: Stefanie(Mark) Ahrens-Kruszewski and Staci(Mitch) Ahrens-Carr; grandson, Harrison; ex-wife and friend: Charlene Ahrens and sisters: Carole, Barb, and Pat. Fred proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy as a Machinist Mate during the Vietnam War. He retired from Acme Steel and volunteered with Meals on Wheels of NWI. Fred will be greatly missed. Friends may visit with Fred’s family on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel,…

Eugene F. Pete, of Hebron, passed away Sunday, February 3 at the age of 84. Gene signed on as a pitcher with the Cincinnati Reds after high school, and later went on to proudly serve his country in the U.S. Army. During his 40 year career with American Bridge, Gene supervised the steel sequencing of numerous Chicago landmark skyscrapers. He is survived by his beloved wife, Kathleen; and his loving son, Daniel (Linda); cherished grandchildren: Alysanne, Ryan (Fallen) and Kristin (Chris); 2 treasured great grandsons; his dear sister, Eleanor; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his brother, Stanley and sister, Jenny. He will be deeply…

Rita J. Burke (Rigaux), age 92, of Gary, passed away Wednesday, January 30th, 2019. Rita was born in Givet, France. She met and married her husband Jim while in France and later relocated to the U. S. in 1968. She was employed at AnCo for many years. She is survived by her loving husband of more than 50 years, Jim; her sister, Theresa (late Henri) Denis; and nephew, Daniel Denis. Visitation will be Tuesday, February 5th from 3:00-7:00 PM with a prayer service offered at 6:30 at Rendina Funeral Home, 5100 Cleveland Street, Gary. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, February 6th at 10:00 AM at DIRECTLY St.…

Randal William Dutro, 61, made his final departure from Earth to our Lord in Heaven on January 27, 2019. He was born a native of Florida in 1957 to Don and Louise Dutro. Later on they would make Indiana his home. He enjoyed all things American. He loved his family, football and of course, the Lord. He lived in faith and he died in faith. Randy is survived by his devoted wife of 28 years Julie Dutro (nee Blanton), their 3 children; Craig Dutro, Sierra Dutro (Nikko Aldana) and Noah Dutro, one grand dog Nugget Dutro, two brothers; Alwin and Greg, three sisters; Lavon, Ester, and Lindy and an over…

James "Jimmy" Corralez, 74, passed away Tuesday, January 29th, 2019. He is preceded in death by his father Francisco and mother Jenny, sister Consuela and brother Paul (Pat). Survived by his wife Mary Lou, children Jaime, Marcos, and Lorena (Jason). 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Sister Irene (Tino) Pineda and brother David (Margarit). He liked to dance, golf, and play cards, but most of all he loved spending time with his grandchildren.

Betty J. Shatkowski, nee Hickman, 87, formerly of Merrillville, passed away on Monday, January 28, 2019. She was a resident of The Reserve at Hamilton Trace in Fishers, Ind. From her birth on January 5, 1932, in Crown Point to her death on Monday, she enlightened friends and family with her love, faith and companionship. She married Theodore J. Shatkowski on October 7, 1961, who preceded her in death in 2001. Betty is survived by a son, David (Laura) Shatkowski of Fishers, Ind., a daughter Julie (Scott) Jackson of Dyer, grandsons Nathan and Benjamin Shatkowski and Ryan Jackson, a sister, Donna Nemeth, and many nieces and nephews. She was also…

Henry Martinez, age 66, of Gary, passed away Saturday, January 26, 2019. He is survived by his devoted wife, Carmen; loving children: son, Felix and daughter, Yolanda; dear sisters: Irene Bravo and Angela (Aurelio) Badolla; and many nephews and nieces. Visitation will be 3:00 – 7:00 PM on Friday, Feb. 1, with a prayer service offered at 4:00 at Rendina Funeral Home, 5100 Cleveland St, Gary. Additional visitation will be Saturday, Feb. 2, from 9:00 – 9:30 AM, also at Rendina, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at St. Mary Catholic Church, 525 N Broad St, Griffith, Fr. Mens officiating. Interment Evergreen Memorial Park, Hobart.

Ellen Elizabeth Gavers (nee Blacka), 80, of Hobart, IN, passed away peacefully on January 24, 2019. Ellen is survived by her loving husband; Terry Gavers, son; Rodney E. Milligan (Theresa), daughter; Cynthia (Jeffrey) Scroggins, granddaughters; Alexandra (Joseph) Purevich, Elizabeth Milligan, Arielle (Jonathan) Bedoy, Chelsea Milligan, great grandchildren; Declan Purevich and Camila Bedoy. Ellen is preceded in death by her parents; Ernest Blacka and Agnes Blacka (Devine). Ellen was a compassionate nurse for over 30 years caring for patients at Methodist Northlake and Munster Community. She enjoyed dancing and traveling with her husband. She was very proud of her grandchildren and took great joy in becoming a great grandmother. Ellen adored…

Charlie M. Talbert Jr., age 93, passed away Sunday, January 20, 2019, in Portage, IN. Charlie was born on April 27, 1925 in Albemarle, NC. He is survived by his sons: Edward (Barb) Talbert and James M (Antoinette) Talbert; grandchildren: Jim (Karen) Talbert, Jennifer (Joe) Valles, Amanda (Brian) Bartosz and Scott Talbert; great-grandchildren: Michael (Katie), Nicole, Tim, David, Nick, Lily, Hank and Brody; sister: Grace Cagle and many loving nieces and nephews in North Carolina. Charlie loved gardening and stained glass work. He was a loving father, grandfather, and friend. Arrangements were handled by Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, Hobart, IN. For more information, please contact (219)940-3791.

Frances Remenius, age 84 passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. She is survived by her children, Helen Hansell, Ernie (Terri) Remenius and Lisa (Jeff) Baker; grandchildren, Michael (Justina), Melissa, Melinda, Evan, Sicily, Christopher, Mariah (Charles), Cody and Hannah and seven beautiful great grandchildren. Preceded in death by her parents Paul and Helen Milenkoff (née Shayotovich), her beloved husband; Ernest Remenius, sister; Katherine Rollins and son in law; James “Mike” Hansell. Frances lived most of her life in Gary Indiana and was a 1952 graduate of Tolleston High School. She worked for many years with her husband in the Communications Department at the Gary Police Garage…

Barbara Ann Kutnik (nee Kawalec) WHITING, IN – Barbara Kutnik (85) was born April 27, 1933, in Chicago, IL. She passed away peacefully on January 7, 2019 surrounded by her family. She was the beloved wife of Edward Kutnik and loving mother of Michael (Kim) Mandas, Gayle (Michael Becich) Mandas, and Patrick (Sheryl) Mandas; grandmother of Erik and Paige Mandas; sister of Robert Kawalec; and cherished aunt of many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Margaret Bonaventura and Stanley Kawalec; her brother and sister-in-law, Edward and Peggy Kawalec; and sister-in-law Nora Kawalec. Barbara’s faith in God was very strong and she was a member of…

Sylvester Smith III was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 19, 1992. He graduated from Merrillville High School in May of 2012. Sylvester dabbled in sports as a child, but his favorite pastimes were skateboarding, playing video games, and his new-found passion, photography. Sylvester is survived by his loving parents: Vanessa L. Cohen Smith and Sylvester (Vernita) Smith Jr.; grandmothers: Nancy Smith and LaTiece Cohen; siblings: Dwayne A. Cohen and Saleah L. Smith; step siblings: Victoria Stanton, Dashioa Hogan, Michael Hogan and Ladarius Boyce; beloved aunts and uncles: Charisse (Glen) Henson, Dink F. Cohen III, Eva Nell Rogers, Reverend James E. (Beverly) Smith, Alicia M. Smith, and Michael (Sonya) Cephus…