Portage resident and former Porter County Chief Deputy Sheriff Homer H. “Hy” Highlands, 75, died Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006, at Millers Merry Manor Nursing Home in Portage.

He was born Feb. 13, 1931, in Gary, the son of Hubert H. and Marie (Sencig) Highlands, who preceded him in death.

On Aug. 31, 1951, in Crown Point, he married Noal J. Kickels, who on April 9, 2004, also preceded him in death.

He is survived by a son, David (wife Diane) Highlands of Portage; a daughter, Carol (husband Jim) Langendorfer of Dunwoody, Ga.; five grandchildren, Bob and Tim Langendorfer of Georgia, Tonia Kitchel of Portage; and Colin and Patrick Highlands of Portage; and two great-grandchildren, Emma Grace Kitchel and Lanie Nicole Kitchel.

Highlands graduated from Horace Mann High School in Gary in 1949, served with the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954 with the 1st Engineers Battalion of the 113th Combat Engineers, and was a member of American Legion Post 94 in Valparaiso. He was the former owner, with his wife, of the Portage Dairy Queen. He was a long-time member of the Republican community in Portage and Porter County and served as Porter County Chief Deputy Sheriff, retiring in 1989.

Funeral services, Pastor Dennis Ticen officiating, are scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, Portage Chapel, 6941 Central Ave. in Portage. He will be interred at Heritage Cemetery in Portage.

Visitation is scheduled from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Edmonds & Evans, Portage Chapel.

Memorials may be made to The Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Posted 11/27/2006