Justin David Wingard, 25, of Michigan City, Ind. passed away at 12:31 p.m. Sunday, June 28, 2020 at Porter Regional Hospital, Valparaiso, Ind.

He was born April 17, 1995 in Michigan City to Richard Wingard and Diane (Glosinger) Clemons.

Justin enjoyed spending time listening to music and skateboarding. He was a tattoo enthusiast who was always looking for a scare at haunted houses. Justin loved his family and was always there when you needed him. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.

On Nov. 1, 2019 in La Porte, Ind. he married Cheryl (Lamski) Wingard, who survives.

Also surviving are his mother, Diane Clemons of Michigan City; children, Leland Clemons of La Porte, Ind. and Kallie Wingard of Michigan City; one step-daughter, Jocelyn Bodnar of La Porte; a daughter on the way, Lexi Wingard; sisters, Jennifer (Michael Schmidt) Wingard of Michigan City and Sue Wingard of South Bend, Ind.; niece, Olivia Schmidt; and nephew, Joshua Schmidt.

His father preceded him in death.

Cremation will take place. A private celebration of his life will be held.

Memorial contributions may be directed to his wife, Cheryl Wingard.

Lakeview Funeral Home & Crematory, 247 W. Johnson Rd., La Porte, (219) 362-3100 is handling the arrangements.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com

Here is the updated service information:

Visitation will from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 11 at Lakeview Funeral Home & Crematory, 247 W. Johnson Rd., La Porte, (219) 362-3100, where a celebration of life service will be held at 1 p.m. with Lou Lucas officiating.

Burial will take place at Rolling Prairie Cemetery at a later date.

To view the original obituary, see https://whatsnewlaporte.com/2020/05/07/gene-jonas-1949-2020/

Judith Kay Anderson, 80, of Walkerton, Ind. passed away Sunday, July 5, 2020 at Miller’s Merry Manor, Plymouth, Ind.

Judy was born Feb. 12, 1940 in Springfield, Mo. to Ernest G. and Fern (Hasty) Lowery.

She married Douglas O. on June 19, 1965 in La Porte, Ind.

Judy was a 1959 graduate of La Porte High School and then attended Reese School of Business.  She was the co-owner of Liberty Package Store of North Liberty and previous co-owner of Anderson Petroleum of La Porte.  Judy enjoyed her dogs, tending to her roses, and collecting teddy bears.  She and Doug enjoyed going for rides in their restored ’67 ‘vette.

Survivors include her husband; children, Scott Anderson of Indiana and Tanya Dickinson of New Mexico; grandson, Cody Dickinson of Indiana; and beloved Doberman, Ciera.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Linda Barker.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 9 at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center,  and from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, followed by a celebration of life service starting at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Patton Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the La Porte County Small Animal Shelter, 2855 West State Road 2, La Porte, Ind. 46350 or to the donor’s local animal shelter.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.cutlercares.com.

Warren’s golf heaven

Warren Wollert passed away this week after a long battle with life in general. Warren elevated excessive work and play to an art form. He married Connie Wilson while still in high school and worked his way up from pushing a cart at Lang’s Foundry to a line job at Chalmers, then on to becoming a pioneering computer programmer, and finally ascending to the rank of Systems Analyst at Whirlpool.

When Warren wasn’t working 80-hour weeks, he was busy playing too much golf, working in a garden that was two times too big, and rolling a bowling ball way too hard. To this day, he may be the youngest LaPorte resident to ever cause Bowl-A-Way’s late great legendary pin boy, Earl, to cry out in pain after one of Warren’s blistering, pin-cracking strikes.

Warren would never freely admit it, but he was a very sociable guy. He still has friends from Maple School through high school, he had great times with the LaPorte Jaycees, and he rose through the ranks at The Elks to eventually become The Grand Exalted Whatever.

Although he clearly hated every minute of being in the junior high and high school bands, Warren loved to sing and thoroughly enjoyed the friends he made performing in Barber Shop Quartet competitions throughout the state. He was also known to frequently join the sing-a-longs at one of his favorite watering holes, The Poplar Inn, which might be why the muskrats finally moved out of the joint.

Let’s face it, Warren was also known to relax to the max under the operating theory that they wouldn’t put Coca Cola and Budweiser in six packs, if you were only supposed to drink one can. When Warren finally stopped drinking Bud four years ago, his health improved considerably, and Anheuser-Busch stock dropped ten percent.

After Connie, his daughter, Gail, and his son, Doug, left the planet prematurely over the past two years, Warren just might have decided his job and his fun were done here. He is survived by three Wollert brothers, Gerry, Randy and Dave, and will no doubt get up to some sort of shenanigans when he re-unites with his brother Rog. Warren also leaves behind nieces Debbie, Julie, Shelley and Marlene, and two nephews, Mike and Ed.

Warren’s granddaughters, Jennifer Kugler of Indianapolis and Jackie Snyder of LaPorte, were unquestionably two of the major highlights of his life, which ranks them just after golf and way ahead of high school band.

Warren will also be missed by son-in-law Karl Kugler, brother-in-law Roy Wilson, Mark Clendaniel, Adam Snyder, Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow, and Jerry Mathers, as The Beaver.

We will miss the love, the stories, and the laughter, Warren… along with all of the well-documented excessiveness that made you so much fun to be around.

Debra Anne Williams, 66, of La Porte, Ind. passed away Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at her home, with family by her side.

She was born Nov. 28, 1953 in La Porte to James J. and Rose Ruth (Nowfel) Showley.

She married David “Jay” on Sept. 30, 2017 in La Porte.

Debra was a manager for many years at the Grill House on 9 at Briar Leaf Golf Club.  She was a member of Briar Leaf Ladies League, Tight Lies Golf League, and La Porte Yacht Club.  Debra was an avid golfer.  She enjoyed gardening and traveling, but most importantly, spending time with family and friends.

Survivors include her husband; daughter, Stephanie (Matt) Graham of La Porte; grandchildren, Chaise Magnuson and Morgan Graham, both of La Porte; sister, Reneé (Don) Organ of La Porte; and niece, Ashley (Dan) Roberts of New York.

She was preceded in death by her parents; step-father, Sanford Showley; and father-in-law, Ron Williams.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, where  a celebration of life service will begin at noon with Father Gordon Kalil officiating.

Cremation with burial will take place at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 50 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38106-9959.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.cutlercares.com.

Jerrold (Jerry) H. Roth, 82, passed away peacefully at his home July 3, 2020, surrounded by his beloved family.

He was born Aug. 15, 1937 to Henry Roth and Ada (MacCarver) Roth in Eureka, Ill. and lived his adult life in La Porte, Ind. and in South Bend, Ind.

Jerry married Martha Darst on Nov. 5, 1960 in La Porte.

Jerry was raised in La Porte and graduated from La Porte High School in 1956; he later graduated from Indiana University. He was a longtime member of the Elks and Christiana Creek Golf Club of Elkhart, Ind., where he enjoyed golfing and playing cards with his great group of friends. He had a love of boating and fishing, which he shared with his children and grandchildren. Jerry was also a loyal fan of the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs and IU basketball. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, who was loved by many and will be deeply missed. Jerry was a devoted grandfather, full of love and humor, and he passed on his values and supported the endeavors of each of his nine grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife; daughters, Michelle (Tanis) Roth Arriaga of Osceola, Ind. and Deborah Roth of South Bend; grandchildren, Justin, Jimmy, Yadira, Jennifer, Eduardo, Zuri, Tanis Jr., Aylin, and Alexis; great-grandchildren, Lillie, Bryan, Abby, Alexander, Jacob, Sammy, Zoe, Ellie and Emiliano; niece, Jennifer Roth; brother, Jon Roth of Rolling Prairie, Ind.; and sister-in-law, Cathe (Don) Boody and their daughter Julia.

The family wishes to acknowledge and thank the entire staff and volunteers at the Center for Hospice Care of South Bend and La Porte for the invaluable support, guidance and care they provided.

In lieu of a memorial service, the family welcomes and encourages friends and family to share memories or thoughts and view a gallery of photos by visiting jerryroth.weebly.com

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.

Viola A. Wakeman, 88, of La Porte, Ind. passed away Monday, July 6, 2020 at La Porte Hospital.

She was born July 30, 1931 in Pelican Rapids, Minn. to John and Ida (Grandrude) Tollerude.

A restaurant owner, Viola enjoyed gardening and fishing. She was a great cook and especially loved making rhubarb pies. But Viola’s favorite thing was to spend time with her grandkids.

She is survived by daughters Susan Hudgins and Diana (Michael) Dubbs, both of La Porte; sons Dale Wakeman, Jr. of Kingsbury, Ind., David (Chris) Wakeman of Savannah, Ga., and Daniel Wakeman of La Porte; brother, Charles; sister, Marlene (Fritz); grandchildren, Brad, Chip, Candi, Brice, Bryan, Heidi, Ayriel, Rodney, Daniel, Crystal, Mike, Nick, and Anthony; 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were daughters Alice Novak and Angela; brothers Ole, Ruben and Albert; sisters Olga, Ruby, Ruth and Lila; granddaughter Mindy and the father of her children, Dale.

Visitation will be noon to 2 p.m. Friday ,July 10 at Haverstock Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 602 Maple Ave., La Porte, Ind. where a celebration of life service will follow at 2 p.m. Cremation will take place.

Memorial contributions in honor of Viola may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.haverstockfuneralhome.com

Betty Rose Fredenburg, 84, of New Carlisle, Ind. and formerly of La Porte County, passed away peacefully at 12:45 a.m. Monday, July 6, 2020 at Miller’s Merry Manor, New Carlisle.

She was born Sept. 3, 1935 in La Porte, Ind. to Orval and Bessie (Webb) Hicks.

Betty retired as an obstetrics aide from La Porte Hospital after 35 years of service. She was a member of the Freedom Missionary Baptist Church, Michigan City, Ind. Betty enjoyed gardening and was known for her singing, having competed in state competitions. Everyone loved her; she was such a wonderful woman with a big heart.

On May 31, 1958, in Michigan City, she married Richard Fredenburg, who preceded her in death in 1997.

Also preceding her in death were her infant daughter, Rebecca Fredenburg; two sons, Steve and Scott Fredenburg; four brothers; and one sister.

Survivors include her children, Holly, Dan and Eric (Sara) Fredenburg, all of Rolling Prairie, Ind.; close niece, Irma Rice; many nieces and nephews; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at noon Saturday, July 11 at Freedom Missionary Baptist Church, 426 Ogden Ave., Michigan City, Ind. with Pastor Terry McKinney officiating.

Lakeview Funeral Home & Crematory, La Porte, (219) 362-3100 is handling the arrangements.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com

Mary Louise Craft, 105, of West Lafayette, Ind. passed away Sunday, April 26, 2020 at her residence, exactly one week before her 106th birthday.

Mary was born on May 3, 1914 in Buckingham, Ill. to Frank A. and Nellie (Reed) Oakes. She was the third of six children.  She graduated from Kingsbury High School in 1930 and was a lifelong resident of La Porte, Ind.

She married Donald R. Craft, a Kingsbury classmate, in Valparaiso, Ind. in 1933.

She was a member of the La Porte First United Methodist Church, a 75-plus year member of the La Porte Order of  Eastern Star, and the La Porte Order of White Shrine, where she was a Past Grand Worthy Organist.  She was a former owner, with her husband, of General Mfg. & Sales Corp. of La Porte and Fountain Foundry Corporation, Veedersburg, Ind.

Mary was a talented piano player and accompanied many sing-alongs around the piano with family and friends.  She was an avid sports fan and enjoyed many fishing trips to the family cabin in Canada.

Preceding her in death was her husband on December 28, 1994.

Survivors include children Donald E. (Ingrid) Craft of Veedersburg, Karel Haag of Veedersburg, and George R. (Bitsy) Craft, of Attica; grandchildren Beth Searer of Sevierville, Tenn., Jennifer (Larry) Wichmann of Lafayette, Ind., Gretchen (Kevin) Helms of Noblesville, Ind., Rachael (John) Schatko of Noblesville, Thomas (Haley) Craft of Veedersburg, Amy (James) Munroe of Crawfordsville, Ind. and Andrew (Sally) Craft of Seattle, Wash.; nine great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; two sister-in-laws; one niece; and several nephews.

A private family graveside service will be held at Kingsbury Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Shriner Hospital for Children, 2900 N. Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, Fla. 33607; Riley Hospital for Children, 705 Riley Hospital Dr., Indianapolis, Ind. 46202; or La Porte First United Methodist Church, 1225 Michigan Ave., La Porte, Ind. 46350.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com

Brian Lee Johnson, 40, of La Porte, Ind. passed away unexpectedly Monday, July 6, 2020 in Griffith, Ind.

He was born Oct. 6, 1979 in Michigan City, Ind. to Billy Jack and Donna (Chappell) Johnson.

Brian enjoyed motorcycles, cars, electronics, gadgets and cooking, and he especially enjoyed spending time with his daughter, his baby girl. He had a good heart and loved his mom.

Survivors include his mother and step-father, Donna and Jeff Hagenow of La Porte; fiancé Veronica Halley of Griffith; daughter Faith Evelyn Arlene Johnson of Michigan City; step-children Jordan of Kingsbury, Ind. and Natalie, Olivia and Devon, all of Griffith; sisters Misty Dawn (David) Vaughn of Houston, Tex. and Brooke Johnson of La Porte; step-siblings Michael Hagenow of La Porte, Jennifer (David) Pekofske of Walkerton, Ind., and Tara Pirkel and Kelly Ackerman, both of La Porte; aunt Pat (Don) Perdue of Michigan City; five nieces; six nephews; and one niece or nephew on the way.

Preceding him in death were his father; maternal grandparents, Clyde Chappell and Arlene Sears; and uncle Darryl Chappell.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, July 10 at Lakeview Funeral Home & Crematory, 247 W. Johnson Rd., La Porte, (219) 362-3100, where a funeral celebrating his life will be held at 6 p.m. Burial will take place at Swan Lake Memorial Gardens, Michigan City.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Shatter Proof, for drug addiction, 101 Merritt 7 Corporate Park, 1^st floor, Norwalk, Conn. 06851 and/or La Porte County Animal Shelter, 2855 W. State Rd. 2, La Porte, Ind. 46350, in memory of Brian Lee Johnson.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com

Donald Robert Dignam, 82, of La Porte, Ind. passed away July 8, 2020 at his home, surrounded by his family.

Visitation will be from noon to 12:30 p.m. Friday, July 17 at Curley Funeral Home, Chicago Ridge, Ill., where a celebration of life service will follow at 12:30 p.m. Burial will follow at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum, Alsip, Ill.

Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, La Porte, is handling the local arrangements.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.cutlercares.com.

Joseph B. Bozek, 87, passed away at his home in Las Vegas, Nev. on April 10, 2020.

He was born Aug. 29, 1932 in La Porte, Ind. to Joseph J. and Marguerite B. (McDonald) Bozek.

Joseph was a 1950 graduate of Rolling Prairie High School and then served as a member of the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. He was honorably discharged as a corporal. When he returned home he met Carol S. Arndt and they were united in marriage on Nov. 9, 1957 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, La Porte. Joseph retired from Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance in 1983 as the office manager in Lake County, Ind.

Joseph enjoyed going to Texas and Nevada during the winters, prior to moving to Las Vegas. In his free time he liked fishing, camping around Indiana, family reunions and spending time with loved ones.

Survivors include wife; children, James L.(Brooke) Bozek of Las Vegas, Karla M. Rejak of McCordsville, Ind., Paula K. Purkal of Fish Lake, Ind., and Josette I. (Marc) Klemp of Plano, Tex.; sisters-in-law, Dorothy (Arnold) Schoof and Jane Arndt; 13 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, James Eugene; son, Timothy Francis; and rescue dog, Zen.

Burial will be in Patton Cemetery in La Porte on July 25, with family in attendance.

Donations in Joseph’s honor can be made to the LaPorte County Animal Shelter, 2855 Ind. 2, La Porte, Ind. 46350.

Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel, La Porte, Ind. is handling the arrangements.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.

Cody “Toad” Jay Bryant, 29, of La Porte, Ind. passed away unexpectedly at 6:09 p.m. Monday, July 6, 2020 at La Porte Hospital.

He was born Dec. 27, 1990 in Holland, Mich. to Ronald and Tamara (Hansen) Bryant.

Cody graduated from La Porte High School in 2009. He enjoyed art, music, reading and Dragon Ball Z. Toad was a great artist, though unknown. He was known to be a prankster. Toad loved his children and he always had a smile on his face. His big heart never failed anyone. He will be dearly missed.

Cody is survived by his parents, Tamara Bryant and Frederick Wise, both of La Porte; father, Ronald Bryant of Wallace, Idaho; children, Aden Daniel Murray, age 12, and Corey Bryant, age 5, both of La Porte; maternal grandparents, Irmgard and Hans Winter of La Porte; sisters, Amanda (Meer) Jackson of Portage, Ind. and Rebecca Stahl of Rensselaer, Ind.; brothers, Harley Davidson Bryant of La Porte, Mathew Wise of Rolling Prairie, Ind., Ronnie Sislo of Michigan City, Ind. and Todd (Stephanie) Ransom of La Porte; close uncle, Michael Finney of Michigan City; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Preceding him in death were his maternal grandparents, Mary Clara VanDervort and Harold Bronniche Hansen; paternal grandparents, Reginald and Marjorie Wise; and brother, Gregory Gilmore.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 14 at Lakeview Funeral Home & Crematory, 247 W. Johnson Rd., La Porte (219) 362-3100, where a funeral celebrating his life will be held at 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com

Wendell Howard Fain, 79, of La Porte,  Ind. passed away Friday, July 10, 2020 at his home, surrounded by his family.

He was born Sept. 28, 1940 in Casey, Ill. to Ralph and Nora (Biggs) Fain.

On Jan. 15, 1972 in Door Village he married Marilyn Jean Hartle.

Wendell was a field technician for 30 years at GTE.  His favorite past-times included fishing and working in the garage.  Wendell enjoyed all kinds of sports, especially Notre Dame girls basketball.  He was a First Church of God council member and president of the Salem Cemetery Association.

He was preceded in death by his wife on Aug. 16, 2019; his parents; step-son, Mark Nalepka; sisters, Audrey Briggs, Pearl Beasley, and Mary Briggs; and brother, Eldon “Bud” Fain.

Survivors include children, Debra (Brian) Sauers of La Porte, Delynn (Tom) Ervin of Pensacola, Fla. and Curtis (Kimi) Fain of La Porte; grandchildren, Brienne (Jeff) Robertson of Hudsonville, Mich., Lauren Sauers of La Porte, Alexis Fain of Golden, Colo., Amelia Sauers of La Porte, Corporal Mariah Fain of Beaufort, S.C., Jack (Devlin) Ervin of Pensacola, Fla., Kerigan Hundt of La Porte, and Zachary Fain of La Porte; great-grandchildren, Cole, Elena, Leah and Noah; brother, Joe Fain of Mill Creek; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 14 at First Church of God, where a celebration of life service will follow at 11 a.m. with Pastor Roger Ash officiating.  Burial will take place at Salem Cemetery.

The family respects the decision of any family and friend who is unable to attend due to current COVID concerns.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the First Church of God, 2020 E. Lincolnway, La Porte, Ind. 46350.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.cutlercares.com.

Larry Gene Stanley, 72, of Michigan City, Ind. passed away peacefully at 8:19 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at his home.

He was born May 4, 1948, in Michigan City, Ind. to William and Lola (McCune) Stanley.

Larry honorably served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was an electrician for Stanley Electric for over 20 years. Larry was a member of the D.A.V., Michigan City and the Michigan City Fish and Game Club. He enjoyed fishing and playing pool. He loved his family deeply.

Survivors include daughters, Courtney (Daniel) Corley and Heather Hollingshead, both of Knox, Ind.; sister, Leanne Stacey of Westville, Ind.; brothers, Dallas Stanley of Michigan City and Doc (Joann) Stanley of Alabama; grandchildren, Cullin Corley, Devan Healy, Daelyn and Aidan Hollingshead; and great-grandchildren, Khaleesi and Daniel Healy.

Preceding him in death were his parents; sisters, Virginia Owsley and Betty Bailey; and brother, Ray Stanley.

Cremation will take place. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Midwest Cremation Center, 678 E. Hupp Rd., La Porte, (219) 362-1500 is caring for the arrangements.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.midwestcrematory.com.

Barbara “Bobbi” A. MacMillan-Walker, 73, of La Porte, Ind. passed away Saturday, July 11, 2020.

She was born March 1, 1947 in La Porte to Harold and Katherine (Szawara) Salzer. She had lived most of her life in La Porte, but had also lived in Elkhart, Ind. and Tarrytown, N.Y.

She was most recently a guest relations representative at the South Bend Clinic in South Bend, Ind., where she was the switchboard operator and front desk information hostess. Before that she was the head switchboard operator at Somers Orthopedic in Carmel, N.Y. Before moving to New York, she spent many years as a machine operator at NISCO (Nishikawa Cooper, LLC) in Bremen, Ind. She also spent years as a front desk receptionist and inmate state billing agent at Westville Correctional in Westville, Ind. She had also worked as a front desk clerk and auditor at the Holiday Inn in Michigan City, Ind.; as a line attendant, line supplier, machine operator, quality control auditor and an assistant supervisor for 15 years at American Home Foods; and, finally, her first full-time job was as a long-distance telephone operator at General Telephone in La Porte. She also did part-time switchboard jobs at the once-upon-a-time Rumely Hotel in La Porte and St. Joseph Hospital in South Bend. She always said she had the gift to gab!

Barb’s first marriage was to Robert Alan MacMillan of New Carlisle, Ind. They shared being the proud parents of their son, Gary Alan MacMillan, who was her pride and joy. “Thank you, Bob, for giving me the greatest gift of love ever which is being a parent by the grace of God.” Her second husband was Javier Gonzalez, originally from San Miquel Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico. They shared many good times and he gave her the wonderful memories of his beautiful country. “Thank you, Poncho.” She remained friends with them both until the end, sharing no hate or animosity to either. Her third husband was Thomas Bruce Walker of Tarrytown, N.Y. “We were married 14 years and enjoyed a lot of happiness before God called him home. And to think we met on the internet and he sent a plane ticket to New York and the rest is, so they say, history.”

Barb was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the First Church of God, both in La Porte. Over the years she attended many different churches with friends. Each were enlightening but she never gave up her Catholic faith.

Barb was involved in La Porte High School extra-curricular activities from 1981 to 1985 by organizing fund raisers for the Swing Choir, of which her son was a member, and she was a chaperone to Orlando where the Swing Choir competed and won a national competition. She was a former president of the Sacred Heart Rosary Society, the Sacred Heart liturgy committee and Sacred Heart Polish festival committee. She was on the First Church of God funeral luncheon committee and Women of Worth. She was a La Porte County CASA (court-appointed special advocate for abused and neglected children). She was a hands-on member of the South Bend Clinic committee for summer picnics and Christmas parties. Finally, she belonged to the Red Hat Society.

Survivors include son, Gary Alan (Kimberly Good) MacMillan of Hamlet, Ind.; precious grandchildren, Conner Alan MacMillan, Jacob Dean MacMillan, Deanna Marie MacMillan, Jenna Lynn MacMillan, Brayden James MacMillan, and twins, Ella Rose and Eryn Lilly MacMillan; half-sister, Roberta Flatt of La Porte; and many friends, including Judy, Sharon and Shelly.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husbands; half-sister, Marcia Fullerton; and her beloved pets who shared their unconditional love with her.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 15 at Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home Essling Chapel, 1117 Indiana Ave., La Porte, Ind. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 16, 2020 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, La Porte, with Rev. Ian Williams officiating. Family and friends may gather at 9 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home. Burial will follow at Pine Lake Cemetery.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.

Eugene “Gene” Joseph Eggleston, 94, of La Porte, Ind. passed away peacefully at his home Thursday, July 9, 2020.

He was born Aug. 25, 1925 in Elkhart, Ind. to Joseph and Dora (Kershner) Eggleston.

Gene was a member of The Greatest Generation.  He served in the U.S. Coast Guard as a radio operator in the North Pacific Aleutian Islands Theater.  On June 9, 1946 he married Peggy Keller at La Porte First United Methodist Church in La Porte.  He and Peggy were blessed with four children; eight grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren, whom he loved very much.

In 1960, Gene built his family home in Pleasant Township.  Through the years, he participated in the Lions Club, American Legion and the Johnson Township Gun Club.  He was a 4-H leader for eight years and coached teams in the Kankakee Valley Little League.  He also served on the Pleasant Township Advisory Board and the Salem Cemetery Board.

Gene was active in Salem Chapel United Methodist Church for over 40 years, contributing his carpentry skills to finishing a large part of the new church and the fair buildings.  He served as a trustee and member of United Methodist Men for many years and especially enjoyed being a part of the work teams sponsored by the church.  He helped build a school in Sierra Leone and contributed to other church activities as well.  In recent years, he transferred his membership to the La Porte First United Methodist Church.

Gene retired as a 40-year finish carpenter with Midland Engineering Company, South Bend, Ind.  He was a member of the Carpenters Local #413 for 50 years.  In retirement, he spent pleasant hours fishing and hunting, building and remodeling various buildings in the neighborhood, and watching the Cubs, Colts, Bears, and I.U. Basketball.

He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; sisters, Margaret Parker and Mildred Zellers; brothers, James and Harold Eggleston; grandchildren, Melissa and Chad Eggleston; daughters-in-law, Linda and Judy Eggleston; and son-in-law, Kevin Cubel.

Survivors include his children, Susan Eggleston of New Carlisle, Dennis Eggleston of La Porte, Michael (Vikki Manogg) Eggleston of Schererville, Ind. and Patricia (Pat Whitney) Larson of La Porte; grandchildren, Sandra (David) Arndt, Kenneth (Andrea) Eggleston, Lindsey (Arne) Gabrielson, Christine Eggleston, Max Larson, and Maggie (William Masterson, III) Larson; great-grandchildren, Tori (Ethan) Parrish, Joshua Arndt, Morgan and Ryan Eggleston, Alexis Eggleston-Granato, Kayla, Blake and Bryce Gabrielson, Jason Adkins, and Cassidy Radbel; great-great-grandchildren, Carson and Nora Parrish, and Jaxon Eggleston.

Gene will be missed by all who loved him and were blessed by his generosity and skills.  A great thank you to Dunes Hospice for excellent care in the last weeks.

Due to the recent mayoral executive order, anyone attending the visitation and/or service is required to wear a mask.

Cremation has taken place.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 18 at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, where a celebration of life memorial service with military honors will be held at 1 p.m. with Rev. Gene Flickinger will be officiating. Interment will follow at Salem Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Dunes Hospice, 4711 Evans Avenue, Valparaiso, Ind. 46383.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.cutlercares.com.

James “Jim” Joseph Retseck, 69, of La Porte, Ind. passed away peacefully at 9:39 a.m.,Thursday, July 9, 2020 at his home.

He was born March 21, 1951 in Michigan City, Ind. to John Dean and Jeanne Gloria (Clarke) Retseck.

Jim was truly one of a kind. A basketball legend at Marquette High School and Auburn University, Jim was drafted into the NBA by the Golden State Warriors in 1973. After traveling the world as a professional basketball player, he began a 35-year career working in the region’s steel mills (US Steel, Gary Works and Acme Steel, Chicago, Ill.) JJ became a respected blast furnace expert and well-loved shift foreman manager, known for his fairness and colorful language. During that time, he and his loyal friend, Mike Tokoly, also ventured into business as owner-operators of Paints Plus paint supply store. Always humble and ever generous, Jim was eager to help wherever the need arose. He was known as a handy Mr. Fix-It, skilled home renovator, amazing cook and baker, self-taught musician and sketch artist, lovingly “ornery” sibling, and the subject of “I can’t believe he did that” neighborhood tales and family antics. He will be remembered as a gentle giant and dearly missed by all who loved him as we crank up the Motown oldies, grab a Miller High Life, and celebrate him home.

On Aug. 13, 1983 in East Chicago, Ind. he married Kathleen (Kuzydym) Retseck, who survives.

Also surviving are his daughter, Hilary (Dave Joecks) Retseck of Denver, Colo.; siblings, Mary Anne Retseck of South Bend, Ind., Barbara (Ted) Gawronski of Michigan City, Thomas (Mary Jo) Retseck of St. John, Ind., Jane Siebert of Michigan City, Elizabeth (Brian) Lernihan of Naperville, Ill. and Catherine (Wayne) Buell of Michigan City; sister-in-law, Connie Kuzydym of Long Beach; brother-in-law, Richard Kuzydym of Olathe, Kan.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding in death were his parents; siblings, Richard Retseck, Nancy Steele and John D. Retseck, Jr.; father- and mother-in-law, Walter and Irene Kuzydym; sister-in-law, Nancy Kuzydym; and brother-in-law, Allan Kuzydym.

Cremation will take place. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

Lakeview Funeral Home & Crematory, 247 W. Johnson Rd., La Porte, (219) 362-3100 is handling the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be directed to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, founded by Jimmy Valvano, at www.v.org and/or to a charity or a non-profit organization of the donor’s choice, in memory of James Retseck.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com

Mark Edward Gayda, 69, of Kerrville, Tex., passed away unexpectedly March 23, 2020, at Audie Murphy Veterans Hospital in San Antonio, Tex.

He was born March 13, 1951 in La Porte, Ind. to Edward John and Patricia Ann (Cummings) Gayda. He graduated from La Porte High School in 1969.

PFC Gayda proudly served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. For his service he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and V Rifle Sharpshooter Badge. The discipline and patriotism he learned in the USMC never left him, as friends and family will attest. After serving in the Marine Corps, Mark went on to become a carpenter and that led him to a very successful career as a project superintendent.

Mark was a loyal Notre Dame Football fan, so much so that, in 2012, he took his two daughters to the Emerald Isle Classic in Dublin, Ireland to watch the Fighting Irish take on the Navy Midshipmen. He enjoyed watching the Houston Astros, as well as NASCAR. But most of all, Mark was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, camping and hiking. He traveled often to see many the wonders of the United States. His favorite destination was always Big Bend National Park, located in West Texas. He was a rolling stone, free spirit, and a rambler.

Mark was a beloved father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, nephew, and friend.

Survivors include daughters, Amanda (Nick) Schuster of Woodstock, Ga. and Susanne Gayda of Katy, Tex.; grandchildren Abigail Whiting and Franklin Schuster of Woodstock; sisters, Mari Edd Smutzer of Union Mills, Ind. and Diane (Andy) Cleek of Union Mills; brother, Garry (Monica) Gayda of San Antonio, Tex.; Mary Jane Gayda; four nephews; three nieces; two aunts; many cousins and friends; and his beloved and faithful dog, Rip.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sets of grandparents; and many aunts and uncles.

May he rest in peace, and may God wrap his arms around Mark and carry him to heaven. He will be deeply missed. “Semper Fi”

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP.

Jeanene L. Keene, 86, of La Porte, Ind. passed away Tuesday, July 14, 2020.

She was born July 19, 1933 in La Porte to Charles and Selma (Manlove) Boniface.

On March 1, 1952 she married James Keene.

Jeanene was a graduate of Center Township School and received her associates degree in nursing.  She worked for Drs. Seth Philbrook and Ross Lawrence. She was employed at Fountainview Nursing Home and Hamilton Grove Nursing Home, from where she retired.  She was a former member of First Baptist Church of La Porte and most recently was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church.  She taught Bible study and women’s ministries and was a secretary for the La Porte Christian Women’s Club. Jeanene was also a member of the La Porte Hospital Auxiliary.

Survivors include daughter, Joy (John) Moore of Beavercreek, Ohio; sons, Jeffrey (Barbara) Keene of La Porte and Jon (Judy) Keene of Otsego, Minn.; grandchildren, Wendy Lynn (Scott) Armstrong, Jarek Brandon Moore, Zachary Ryan Moore, Brandon (Melanie) Keene, Kristin (Dexter) Rashanne Watkins, Andrew Logan Keene, Isaac Thomas Keene, Carson James Keene, and Tamara (Robert) Mehus; great-grandchildren, Alexander James Armstrong, Deacon James Keene, Paisley Kate Keene, Austin Scott, Cameron West, Xander Elias Watkins, Xiva Arialynn Watkins, Atreyu James Watkins, Kiah Dixi Rae Watkins, Addison Clarke, Raymond Gabriel, Josephine Vance, Jon Eben and Benjamin Clark; and sister, Judith (James) Schreckenbach of Orlando, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her husband, on June 28, 2019; her parents; and a brother, Richard Boniface.

Cremation has taken place.  Burial of ashes and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bethany Memorial Fund, 102 G Street, La Porte, Indiana 46350.

Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, La Porte is handling the arrangements.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.