Searching for NW Indiana Times obits shouldn't feel like a part-time job. Honestly, when you’re dealing with the loss of a loved one or trying to piece together a family tree, the last thing you need is a broken search bar or a paywall that doesn't make sense. I’ve spent way too much time digging through local archives, and let me tell you, Northwest Indiana—or "The Region" as we call it—has a very specific way of handling its history.
The paper we're talking about is officially The Times of Northwest Indiana. You might know it as the nwi.com or even the old Hammond Times. Since it’s the second-largest paper in the state, its obituary section is basically the definitive record for Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties. But finding a specific notice from 1994 is a totally different beast than looking up a service for next Tuesday.
How to Find Recent NW Indiana Times Obits
If someone passed away in the last week or two, you’re in luck. The process is pretty straightforward. Most people head straight to the nwi.com website. They have a dedicated "Obituaries" tab that funnels everything through Legacy.com.
It's pretty slick. You can search by name, or if you’re just checking to see who the community has lost recently, you can browse by date.
But here’s the thing: those digital guestbooks aren't just for reading. They’re interactive. You can light a virtual candle or leave a note for the family. Just keep in mind that these digital records are often managed by funeral homes. If you don't see a name there immediately, check back in 24 hours. Sometimes there’s a lag between the funeral home filing the notice and the digital upload hitting the server.
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What about the "In Memoriam" section?
People often confuse these with standard obituaries. An obituary is usually a one-time news notice about a recent death. An "In Memoriam" is an anniversary tribute paid for by the family, often appearing on the birthday or death date of the deceased years later. If you’re searching for a record from years ago, these might pop up and give you a bit more flavor about how that person was remembered long-term.
Digging Into the Archives: The Genealogy Struggle
This is where it gets kinda messy. If you're looking for NW Indiana Times obits from the 1970s, 1950s, or earlier, a simple Google search usually fails. Why? Because the paper has changed names and owners more times than most people realize.
Back in 1906, it was the Lake County Times. Then it became the Hammond Times in 1933. It didn't drop "Hammond" from the masthead until 1967.
If you are doing serious research, here is the secret sauce:
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- Lake County Public Library (LCPL): They have a massive "Indiana Room." They maintain an obituary index that covers decades. You can actually search their online index for free to see if the record exists before you drive over there.
- Hammond Public Library: They hold a specific Hammond Times index that covers 1939 to 2018. If your family lived in the Northgate or Robertsdale areas, this is your best bet.
- Microfilm vs. Digital: While The Times has digital archives going back to around 1990 on their site, anything older usually requires a trip to a library to look at microfilm. Yes, it’s old school. Yes, it smells like old paper. But it’s the only way to see the original layout, including photos that didn't make the digital jump.
Placing an Obituary: Costs and Deadlines
If you are on the other side of the screen—the one having to write and place the notice—the process is surprisingly corporate now. Most of it is handled through a self-service portal.
Pricing isn't exactly "cheap." A basic death notice might run you around $55, but if you want the full story with a photo and a couple of days in print, you’re easily looking at $150 to $300.
Pro-tip for families: Check with your funeral director first. Most funeral homes in Munster, Highland, or Crown Point include the submission of the obituary as part of their service package. They have direct lines to the Times ad desk and can often handle the formatting for you so you don't have to fiddle with an online uploader while you’re grieving.
Watch the Deadlines
The Times is a daily, but their print deadlines for obituaries are usually mid-afternoon for the next day's paper. If you miss the 2:00 PM or 3:00 PM cutoff, that notice isn't hitting the doorsteps until 48 hours later.
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Common Mistakes People Make
I see this all the time in the local community groups. Someone will post, "I can't find Grandpa's obit in the Times!"
Usually, it’s one of three things:
- The Post-Tribune Factor: Northwest Indiana is a two-paper region. Many families, especially those with Gary or Hobart roots, preferred the Post-Tribune. If it’s not in the Times, search the Post-Tribune archives at the Lake County Public Library.
- The "Maiden Name" Trap: If you’re looking for a woman’s record from forty years ago, try searching by her husband’s name (e.g., "Mrs. John Smith") or her maiden name. Historical indexing wasn't always as progressive as it is now.
- The Nickname Issue: "Buster" might have been his name to everyone in Hammond, but the legal record will be under "Clarence."
Why These Records Actually Matter
It’s easy to think of NW Indiana Times obits as just a list of names. But for "The Region," these are historical blueprints. They tell the story of the steel mills, the migration from Chicago, and the growth of the suburbs.
When you read a notice from 1954, you see mentions of Inland Steel, Youngstown Sheet and Tube, and local parishes that don't even exist anymore. It’s a snapshot of a version of Northwest Indiana that is slowly fading away.
Actionable Next Steps
If you need to track down a record right now, don't just wander around Google. Follow this path:
- For deaths within the last 30 days: Go to the nwi.com obituary page and use the search bar.
- For 1990 to last year: Use the digital archive on the Times website or a subscription service like NewsBank (which many libraries offer for free with a card).
- For anything before 1990: Visit the Lake County Public Library Genealogy page. Use their free index to find the date and page number, then request a scan or visit in person to use the microfilm.
- To place a new notice: Contact your funeral home or call the Times obituary desk directly at 219-933-3293 to get the most current daily rates.
Finding these records is basically a puzzle. If one archive is missing a piece, the local library usually has the rest.