OBITUARY FROM REES FUNERAL HOME WEBSITE:
Nathaniel J. “Nate” Betz, age 25 a lifetime Hobart resident passed away Monday, March 24, 2025. He was born on September 23, 1999 in Portage, Indiana. Nate loved watching and playing sports, playing video games, and supporting his family at their sporting events. He also volunteered his time as a middle school football coach. Nate worked for Dick’s Sporting goods in sales.
He is survived by his mother, Annette (Richard Varella) Betz of Hobart, IN; two brothers, Jake (Jenn) Varella of Hobart, IN; Alec Nesmith of Hobart, IN; grandparents, Dorothy (the late James) Samsel of CA; Barbara (the late Richard Sr.) Varella of Hobart, IN; aunts and uncles, the late Anthony (Estelle) Betz of Knox, IN; Becky (Carl) Johnson of CA; Connie (James) Wright of Hobart, IN; Jennifer Betz of Lake Station, IN; niece, Bailey Varella, nephew, Jakey Varella, many other cousins, family and lifelong friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Bernard Betz.
In honor of Nate’s love for his animals, his dog Gracie and cats Double and Trouble, memorial donations may be made to the Hobart Humane Society, 2054 E. State Road 130, Hobart, IN 46342.
Please honor Nate by dressing casual for the visitation and service in your favorite hoodie, sweatshirt, sports jersey, and gym shoes.
Funeral services are Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Rees Funeral Home, 600 W. Old Ridge Road, Hobart with Rev. Steven Campbell officiating. Cremation will follow. Visitation is just prior to the service from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Rees Funeral Home, Hobart Chapel. (219) 942-2109.
This information and the picture below were obtained from: https://www.reesfuneralhomes.com/obituary/nathaniel-betz. The picture above was obtained from the 2018 HHS Memories yearbook, made available by the Lake County Public Library, at: https://archive.org/details/HOHS2018Images/.
ARTICLE FROM NW INDIANA TIMES, MARCH 25, 2025:
HOBART — The Hobart man missing since Monday was found deceased late Monday night in Lake George, police said in an update Tuesday. No foul play is suspected.
Nathaniel Betz, 25, had been last seen Monday. Police found his car in the downtown Hobart area that day.
In a statement to The Times on Tuesday, the Hobart Police Department said it received a report for a missing person and a request for a welfare check regarding Betz shortly before 1 p.m. Monday.
At around 10 p.m. Monday night, Betz's body was located in Lake George, in the 500 block of S. Lake Park Avenue in Hobart. His official cause of death has not yet been released by authorities.
The Lake County Coroner's Office said a Tuesday autopsy preliminarily revealed there to have been no trauma or foul play
The Hobart Fire Department, Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Lake County Sheriff's Department were reportedly involved in search efforts.
This article and the picture below were obtained from: https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_d165f14f-9e7f-4c9b-9e5b-2faa3554f86e.html.
