(La Porte County, IN) - The La Porte County Clerk’s Office is closed today.

 

It was for the funeral services of a deputy clerk who died in a house fire near Hanna early on the Fourth of July.

 

Kathryn Zabel was 23.

 

A gathering was held yesterday at South Central High School where Zabel graduated.  La Porte County Commissioner Joe Haney was there because Zabel was a friend of his daughter and family.

 

“It was very heartwarming to see the community turn out to support and visit the Zabel family.  Our hearts go out to them and they continue to be in our prayers,” he said.

 

Funeral services were held late this morning at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center in La Porte.

 

Authorities said Zabel was found deceased in an upstairs bedroom.

 

So far, the cause of the fire remains under investigation but a lightning strike was one of the possibilities being looked into due to storms leading up to the blaze.