Finding a specific tribute in Northern Indiana shouldn't feel like a chore, yet somehow it often does. If you're hunting for La Porte Herald Argus obituaries, you've probably noticed something confusing right off the bat. The name on the masthead doesn't always match the digital search bar.
Honestly, the biggest mistake people make is looking for a newspaper that technically "ceased" under its original standalone name years ago. Since 2020, the Herald-Argus merged with the News-Dispatch to become the La Porte County Herald-Dispatch. If you're searching for a recent passing from last week or even 2024, you'll actually find those records under the merged Herald-Dispatch banner.
Why the La Porte Herald Argus Obituaries Are Tricky to Find
It's all about the history. The Herald-Argus was a staple of La Porte life for nearly a century, born from a 1924 merger. But local media changes fast. Today, Paxton Media Group runs the show, and they've consolidated things.
If you are looking for someone who passed away recently, like Christine Ann McLaughlin or Jae E. Moser in early 2026, you won't find a dedicated "Herald Argus" site. You’ll be redirected to the Herald-Dispatch portal on Legacy.com. It’s the same community, same reporters, just a different name on the digital folder.
Where to Look Right Now
- Legacy.com: This is the current "live" archive. It’s where names like Todd Spradling or Linda Susan Swanson appear within days of their services.
- The Herald-Dispatch Website: Their "Obituaries" tab is the direct pipeline for La Porte County.
- Funeral Home Sites: Often, the most detailed stories live on the websites of local pillars like Cutler Funeral Home, Haverstock, or Lakeview. They often post the full text before the newspaper even goes to print.
Digging into the Deep Archives (Pre-2020)
What if you're doing genealogy? That's a different beast. If you need a record from 1954 or 1992, "Googling it" usually won't work. Most of those physical papers haven't been fully indexed by the big search engines in a way that shows up on page one.
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You’ve basically got two paths here.
First, the La Porte County Public Library. They have a dedicated "Indiana Room" at the Main Library on Indiana Avenue. It’s a bit of a hidden gem. They have microfilm machines—yes, the old-school ones—that let you scroll through the Herald-Argus dating back to the late 1800s. If you aren't local, their staff is known for being incredibly helpful. You can often email them, and for a small fee, they’ll scan an obit for you.
Second, paid databases like GenealogyBank or Newspapers.com. They’ve digitized huge chunks of the La Porte County Herald-Argus archives. It’s faster than microfilm, but it’ll cost you a subscription.
The "Maiden Name" Trap and Other Search Hurdles
Searching for women in older La Porte Herald Argus obituaries is famously difficult. Up until the late 20th century, many local papers listed women primarily by their husband's name. You might be looking for "Mary Smith," but the archive has her filed under "Mrs. John Smith."
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Try searching for the husband's name if the wife's name isn't popping up. Also, watch out for typos. In the 1940s, these were hand-set or typed on linotype machines. "La Porte" sometimes becomes "Laporte" or even "LaPort." If your search fails, simplify it. Just search the last name and the year.
Common Funeral Homes Mentioned
When you find an old record, it’ll likely mention one of these long-standing local businesses:
- Essling Funeral Home
- Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel
- Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home
- Geisen-Carlisle (mostly Michigan City, but plenty of overlap)
The Difference Between a Death Notice and an Obituary
People use these terms interchangeably, but they aren't the same. A death notice is usually a tiny, clinical blurb. It’s just the facts: name, date, service time. The family pays for this, but it's cheap and short.
The obituary is the narrative. It’s where you find out that Joan V. Follin, who lived to be 103, tested airplane engines at Bendix during the war. Or that David Alan Rykhus was a lifelong resident whose life "began and ended in the same community." These stories give the La Porte Herald Argus obituaries their real value. They aren't just records; they are the social fabric of the county.
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How to Get an Obituary Published Today
If you’re the one tasked with writing a tribute for the Herald-Dispatch (the successor to the Herald-Argus), you don't usually go to the paper first. Most people coordinate through the funeral director. They have the "pro" portals to upload text and photos directly.
Be prepared for the cost. Gone are the days of free 500-word tributes. Most newspapers charge by the line or the inch. If you want a photo included, that’s usually an extra flat fee.
Pro Tip: Write the long, beautiful version for the funeral home’s website (which is free) and a condensed version for the print edition of the La Porte County Herald-Dispatch to save some money.
Actionable Steps for Your Search
If you are stuck right now, follow this sequence:
- Check Legacy.com first and filter by "La Porte County Herald-Dispatch." This covers everything from 2020 to today.
- Visit the La Porte County Public Library digital archives. They have high school yearbooks and some local history digitized that can provide context even if the specific obit isn't there.
- Use Boolean operators. In Google, type
site:legacy.com "La Porte" "Name"to force the search engine to look only at the official obituary host. - Call the Indiana Room. If you have a specific date of death but can't find the text, the librarians at 219-362-6156 (ext. 101) are your best bet for a manual look-up.
Searching for a loved one is emotional enough without technical glitches. By knowing that the Herald-Argus name has evolved into the Herald-Dispatch, you’re already ahead of most people trying to navigate the local records.