Obituaries

Joseph L. Fyda

Jun 23, 2023

Joseph L. Fyda, 56, of Wheatfield, IN passed away Friday evening, June 23, 2023 at Northwest Health – Porter in Valparaiso, IN. He was born in Rensselaer, IN on August 18, 1966 to Joseph Fyda and Vivian Fay (Johnson) Fyda.

Joe was a 1985 graduate of Kankakee Valley High School. He studied auto mechanics at...

Judith L. Aubuchon

Jun 8, 2023

Judith L. “Judy” Aubuchon, 78, of Rensselaer, Indiana passed away Thursday, June 8, 2023 at I.U. Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Judy was born in Gary, Indiana on August 2, 1944, the daughter of Louis A. Scubelek and Helen R. (Jarosz) Scubelek. She was a graduate of Lew Wallace High School.

Her marriage was to...

Lovell Spurgeon

May 30, 2023

E. Lovell Spurgeon, 95, of Rensselaer, IN passed away in Rensselaer on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. She was born on June 25, 1927 to the late Edgar Calvin and Lula (Payne) List.

She was a 1945 graduate of Monon High School and lived most of her life in the Jasper County area. Lovell married Harry...

Henry Jay Auwerda

May 18, 2023

Henry Jay “Hank” Auwerda, 81, of Morocco, IN passed away at his home on Thursday, May 18, 2023. He was born in Hammond, IN on July 7, 1941, and grew up in Highland, IN. He was a resident of DeMotte, IN for 43 years prior to moving to Morocco.

Hank was a 1959 graduate of...

Christopher Bailey

May 16, 2023

It is with heavy hearts; the family of Christopher Bailey announces his sudden passing on May 16, 2023 at Sidney & Louis Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana at the age of 39.

He was born November 8, 1983 in Valley Bush Retreat, St. Mary, Jamaica to Leroy and Claudia (Byfield) Bailey. After Graduating from Tacky...

Wayne A. Bretzinger

Apr 28, 2023

Wayne A. Bretzinger, 76, of Rensselaer, Indiana passed away on April 28, 2023 at Franciscan Health Lafayette East. He was born April 20, 1947 in Rensselaer to Earl and Rosalie (Smith) Bretzinger.

Wayne graduated from Rensselaer High School with the Class of 1965. He served in the Air Force during Vietnam. He worked for United...

Thomas Lee Dowty

Apr 28, 2023

Thomas Lee Dowty, 53, a lifelong resident of Rensselaer, Indiana passed away unexpectedly on Friday, April 28, 2023 from complications of esophageal cancer. He was born in Rensselaer on July 13, 1969 to William M. Dowty, Jr. and Betty Jane (Lowe) Dowty.

Tom graduated from Rensselaer Central High School with the Class of 1987. He...

William Anthony Reffelt

Apr 28, 2023

William Anthony “Tony” Reffelt, 79, of Punta Gorda, Florida, formerly of Rensselaer, Indiana, passed away at his home on April 28, 2023. He was born in Kokomo, Indiana on July 30, 1943, the son of William R. Reffelt and Helen (Critser) Reffelt. He was a 1961 graduate of Rensselaer High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1964...

Jimmy "Jim" Nesius

Apr 23, 2023

Jimmy “Jim” Nesius

Jim Nesius, 79, died Sunday, April 23, 2023 at IU Hospital in Lafayette, IN. Jim was born at Jasper County Hospital on February 28, 1944 in Rensselaer, Indiana to Lois Alson Nesius and Arthur Nesius.

Jim grew up on his parent’s farm in Jordan Township and loved farming...

Saundra Ora Sypult

Apr 17, 2023

Saundra Ora Sypult, 84, of Lake Village, Indiana passed away April 17, 2023, with her family at her side. She was born in Morocco on August 15, 1938, to the late LeRoy “Todd” Smart and Edmere (Gervais) Smart.

She worked many years as a bookkeeper and supervisor in the banking industry. Retiring in 2017 from...

Ronald V Tanner

Apr 10, 2023

Ronald V Tanner, 82, passed away April 10, 2023 at Parkview Haven in Francesville.

Ron was born to Vern and Aldine Tanner on November 22, 1940. He attended Francesville public schools, graduating in 1959. He belonged to the local 4-H club where he showed dairy cattle at the Pulaski County Fair. He continued to work...

Carole Kessler

Mar 31, 2023

Carole Kessler, 83, of Morocco, Indiana, departed this world to enter her heavenly home on Friday evening, March 31, 2023. She spent her final days surrounded by her loving family and cherished friends.

Carole was born in Valparaiso, Indiana on June 26, 1939. The daughter of Earl and Alice (Bond) Hanrahan, Carole was an outgoing,...

Joseph Fyda

Mar 29, 2023

Joseph Fyda, 81, of rural Rensselaer, IN passed away peacefully early Wednesday morning, March 29, 2023 surrounded by his family. He was born in East Chicago, IN on February 23, 1942, the son of Eric Fyda and Stella (Kozlowski) Fyda. He was a graduate of Wheatfield High School and was a Vietnam Veteran. He served as a mechanic in...

Bobby R. Grisham

Mar 28, 2023

Bobby R. Grisham, 76, of Morocco, Indiana passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 surrounded by his family. He was born in Creal Springs, Illinois on March 5, 1947, the son of Robert Grisham and Juanita (LeMaster) Grisham.

On November 22, 1990, in Schererville, he married Brenda Porter.

...

Jeannette M. Blackhall

Mar 24, 2023

Jeannette “Jay” Blackhall, age 101, a lifelong resident of Rensselaer, Indiana went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday evening, March 24, 2023. She was born in Rensselaer on December 2, 1921 to Joseph Nesius and Lillian (Zacher) Nesius.

She was a graduate of Rensselaer High School and went on to attend...

Helen C. Daniels

Mar 23, 2023

Helen C. Daniels, 97, of Rensselaer, Indiana passed away Thursday, March 23, 2023 at the Rensselaer Care Center. She was born in Michigan City, Indiana on April 6, 1925 to Vernon Loetz and Catherine (Markel) Loetz.

On May 9, 1942, in Michigan City, she married Clarence L. Daniels. He preceded her in death on September...

Stacy I. Bakley

Mar 20, 2023

Stacy I. Bakley, 63, of Rensselaer, Indiana passed away March 20, 2023 at her home. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 27, 1959 to the late Clarence Serna and Carol (Polley) Serna.

She married Stan Bakley on December 12, 2009. Stacy loved bird watching, shiny jewelry, and enjoyed the scents of flowers, potpourri...

Vernon J. Falk

Mar 20, 2023

Vernon J. Falk (Junior), Age 93, of Morocco passed away Monday March 20, 2023 at the George Ade Care Center in Brook. Vernon was born on January 8, 1930 in Morocco to Vernon Falk Sr. and Vaneta Falk.

Vernon was a lifelong resident of Morocco, and graduated from Morocco High School in 1948. On October...

David Wayne Zacher

Mar 20, 2023

David Zacher “Buzzy”, age 54 of Rensselaer, Indiana, passed away Monday, March 20, 2023, leaving behind two precious daughters and one trusty sidekick, his blue heeler, Jack.

David is survived by the loves of his life, twin daughters Lillian Sue and Josie Jane; his parents, Cecil and Josie Zacher; his sister Beth (Dave) Schieda; nephew...

James "Pete" Earnest Mccormick

Mar 17, 2023

James “Pete” Earnest McCormick, 94, of Rensselaer, Indiana, passed away on March 17, 2023, peacefully in his sleep.

Pete was born on March 6, 1929, to Benjamin and Barsha McCormick. Pete is survived by his loving wife, Janet McCormick, of 69 years. Pete was known to have loved the great outdoors and was an avid...