Notable Births & Deaths for Merrillville ...

Below is our list of notable people who were born, died or were buried in the area surrounding Merrillville. Please note that while we are collecting data on an ongoing basis, it's a big task and it's unlikely that our list will ever be more than a sample.

• Thomas Burke Baldwin     (Professional football)
  • He was born in Evergreen Park (IL) on May 13, 1961 (a Saturday) and died in Naperville (IL) on May 2, 2000 (a Tueday) at the age of 39. He is buried at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery (Cook County, Illinois).
  • Evergreen Park is located 25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Thomas Burke Baldwin<1>
• Anne Baxter     (Oscar winning actress)
  • She was born in Michigan City (IN) on May 7, 1923 (a Monday) and died in New York (NY) on December 12, 1985 (a Thursday) at the age of 62.
  • Michigan City is located 27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Anne Baxter<1>
• Dennis James Biodrowski     (Professional football)
  • He was born in Gary (IN) on June 27, 1940 (a Thursday) and died in Fort Worth (TX) on October 20, 2014 (a Monday) at the age of 74. He is buried at Shannon Rose Hill Memorial Park (Tarrant County, Texas).
  • Gary is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the north of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Dennis James Biodrowski<1>
• Eddie Blazonczyk, Sr.     (Musician)
  • He was born in Chicago (IL) on July 12, 1941 (a Saturday) and died in Palos Heights (IL) on May 21, 2012 (a Monday) at the age of 70. He is buried at Ressurection Catholic Cemetery (Cook County, Illinois).
  • Palos Heights is located 27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Eddie Blazonczyk, Sr.<1>
• Frank Borman     (Astronaut, USAF, test pilot, aeronautical engineer)
  • Full name: Frank Frederick Borman, II
  • He was born in Gary (IN) on March 14, 1928 (a Wednesday) and died in Billings (MT) on November 7, 2023 (a Tueday) at the age of 95.
  • Gary is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the north of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Frank Borman<1>
• Lyman Wesley Bostock, Jr.     (Major League Baseball)
  • He was born in Birmingham (AL) on November 22, 1950 (a Wednesday) and died in Gary (IN) on September 23, 1978 (a Saturday) at the age of 27. He is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery (Los Angeles County, California).
  • Gary is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the north of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Lyman Wesley Bostock, Jr.<1>
• Kathleen Burke     (Actress)
  • She was born in Hammond (IN) on September 5, 1913 (a Friday) and died in Chicago (IL) on April 9, 1980 (a Wednesday) at the age of 66. She is buried at Montrose Cemetery (Cook County, Illinois).
  • Hammond is located 11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Kathleen Burke<1>
• Edward S. 'Moose' Cholak     (Professional wrestler)
  • He was born in Chicago (IL) on March 17, 1930 (a Monday) and died in Hammond (IN) on October 31, 2002 (a Thursday) at the age of 72. He is buried at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery (Cook County, Illinois).
  • Hammond is located 11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Edward S. 'Moose' Cholak<1>
• Nelsan Ellis     (Actor)
  • He was born in Harvey (IL) on November 30, 1977 (a Wednesday) and died in Brooklyn (NY) on July 8, 2017 (a Saturday) at the age of 39. He is buried at Cedar Park Cemetery (Cook County, Illinois).
  • Harvey is located 18 miles [29 km] to the northwest of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Nelsan Ellis<1>
• Dorrance Earnest 'Dory' Funk, Jr.     (Professional wrestler, actor)
  • He was born in Hammond (IN) on February 3, 1941 (a Monday)
  • Hammond is located 11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest of Merrillville.
• Dorrance Wilhelm 'Dory' Funk     (Professional wrestler)
  • He was born in Hammond (IN) on May 4, 1919 (a Sunday) and died in Amarillo (TX) on June 3, 1973 (a Sunday) at the age of 54. He is buried at Dreamland Cemetery (Randall County, Texas).
  • Hammond is located 11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Dorrance Wilhelm 'Dory' Funk<1>
• Terrence 'Terry' Funk     (Professional wrestler, actor)
  • He was born in Hammond (IN) on June 30, 1944 (a Friday)
  • Hammond is located 11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest of Merrillville.
• Vincenzo 'Jim' Genna     (Crime figure)
  • He was born in Marsala (Sicily) on January 18, 1888 (a Wednesday) and died in Calumet City (IL) on November 8, 1931 (a Sunday) at the age of 43. He is buried at Mt. Carmel Catholic Cemetery (Cook County, Illinois).
  • Calumet City is located 14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Vincenzo 'Jim' Genna<1>
• Philip 'Phil' Guy     (Musician)
  • He was born in Lettsworth (LA) on April 28, 1940 (a Sunday) and died in Chicago Heights (IL) on August 20, 2008 (a Wednesday) at the age of 68. He is buried at Homewood Memorial Gardens (Cook County, Illinois).
  • Chicago Heights is located 16 miles [25.7 km] to the west of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Philip 'Phil' Guy<1>
• Wilbur Jackson Hatch     (Conductor)
  • He was born in Mokena (IL) on May 24, 1902 (a Saturday) and died in Studio City (CA) on December 22, 1969 (a Monday) at the age of 67. He is buried at Mountain View Cemetery (Los Angeles County, California).
  • Mokena is located 28 miles [45.1 km] to the west of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Wilbur Jackson Hatch<1>
• Walter Bernard 'Wally' Hess     (Professional football)
  • He was born in Hammond (IN) on October 28, 1894 (a Sunday) and died in Crystal Falls (MI) on August 30, 1963 (a Friday) at the age of 68. He is buried at Mt. Mercy Cemetery (Lake County, Indiana).
  • Hammond is located 11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Walter Bernard 'Wally' Hess<1>
• Michael Jackson     (Entertainer, musician, songwriter)
  • Full name: Michael Joseph Jackson
  • He was born in Gary (IN) on August 29, 1958 (a Friday) and died in West Los Angeles (CA) on June 25, 2009 (a Thursday) at the age of 50. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) (Los Angeles County, California).
  • Gary is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the north of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Michael Jackson<1>
• Tito Jackson     (Musician)
  • Full name: Toriano Adaryll Jackson
  • He was born in Gary (IN) on October 15, 1953 (a Thursday) and died in Gallup (NM) on September 15, 2024 (a Sunday) at the age of 70.
  • Gary is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the north of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Tito Jackson<1>
• Ted Karras     (Professional football)
  • He was born in Gary (IN) on January 31, 1934 (a Wednesday) and died in Gary (IN) on January 26, 2016 (a Tueday) at the age of 82. He is buried at Ridgelawn Cemetery (Lake County, Indiana).
  • Gary is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the north of Merrillville.
  • Gary is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the north of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Ted Karras<1>
• Theodore George 'Ted' Karras, Sr.     (Professional football)
  • He was born in Gary (IN) on January 31, 1934 (a Wednesday) and died in Gary (IN) on January 26, 2016 (a Tueday) at the age of 82. He is buried at Ridgelawn Cemetery (Lake County, Indiana).
  • Gary is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the north of Merrillville.
  • Gary is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the north of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Theodore George 'Ted' Karras, Sr.<1>
• Donald M. Kolloway     (Professional baseball)
  • He was born in Posen (IL) on August 4, 1918 (a Sunday) and died in Blue Island (IL) on June 30, 1994 (a Thursday) at the age of 75. He is buried at Cedar Park Cemetery (Cook County, Illinois).
  • Posen is located 21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest of Merrillville.
  • Blue Island is located 22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest of Merrillville.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Donald M. Kolloway<1>

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for Merrillville: www.townofmerrillville.com/

The official website for Lake County: www.lakecountyin.org/

The official website for State of Indiana: https://www.in.gov