Notable Births & Deaths for Portage ...

Below is our list of notable people who were born, died or were buried in the area surrounding Portage. 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 28 miles [45.1 km] to the west of Portage.
  • 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 17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast of Portage.
  • 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 west of Portage.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Dennis James Biodrowski<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 west of Portage.
  • 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 16 miles [25.7 km] to the west of Portage.
  • Chicago is located 30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest of Portage.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Kathleen Burke<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 23 miles [37 km] to the west of Portage.
  • 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 16 miles [25.7 km] to the west of Portage.
• 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 16 miles [25.7 km] to the west of Portage.
  • 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 16 miles [25.7 km] to the west of Portage.
• Vincenzo 'Jim' Genna
  • Crime figure. He was born in Marsala (Italy) 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 18 miles [29 km] to the west of Portage.
  • 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 23 miles [37 km] to the west of Portage.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Philip 'Phil' Guy<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 16 miles [25.7 km] to the west of Portage.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Walter Bernard 'Wally' Hess<1>
• Michael Jackson
  • Full name: Michael Joseph Jackson
  • Entertainer, musician, songwriter. 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 Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Los Angeles County, California).
  • Gary is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the west of Portage.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Michael 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 west of Portage.
  • Gary is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the west of Portage.
  • 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 west of Portage.
  • Gary is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the west of Portage.
  • 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 26 miles [41.8 km] to the west of Portage.
  • Blue Island is located 26 miles [41.8 km] to the west of Portage.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Donald M. Kolloway<1>
• Art LaFleur
  • Actor. He was born in Gary (IN) on September 9, 1943 (a Thursday) and died in North Hollywood (CA) on November 17, 2021 (a Wednesday) at the age of 78. We don't have any burial details.
  • Gary is located 8 miles [12.9 km] to the west of Portage.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Art LaFleur<1>
• Billy Arnold Muffett
  • Major League Baseball. He was born in Hammond (IN) on September 21, 1930 (a Sunday) and died in Monroe (LA) on June 15, 2008 (a Sunday) at the age of 77.
  • Hammond is located 16 miles [25.7 km] to the west of Portage.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Billy Arnold Muffett<1>
• Nichelle Nichols
  • Born: Grace Dell Nichols
  • Actress, singer, dancer. She was born in Robbins (IL) on December 28, 1932 (a Wednesday) and died in Silver City (NM) on July 30, 2022 (a Saturday) at the age of 89. The body was cremated.
  • Robbins is located 27 miles [43.5 km] to the west of Portage.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Nichelle Nichols<1>
• Charles 'Chuck' Rodegher
  • Race car driver. He was born in Dixmoor (IL) on September 8, 1927 (a Thursday) and died in Indianapolis (IN) on May 16, 1966 (a Monday) at the age of 38. He is buried at Floral Park Cemetery (Marion County, Indiana).
  • Dixmoor is located 24 miles [38.6 km] to the west of Portage.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Charles 'Chuck' Rodegher<1>
• Frank 'Son' Seals
  • Musician. He was born in Osceola (AR) on August 14, 1942 (a Friday) and died in Richton Park (IL) on December 20, 2004 (a Monday) at the age of 62. He is buried at Homewood Memorial Gardens (Cook County, Illinois).
  • Richton Park is located 28 miles [45.1 km] to the west of Portage.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Frank 'Son' Seals<1>

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for Portage: www.ci.portage.in.us/

The official website for Porter County: www.porterco.org/

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