Mark A. Stemko, Sr.

Mark A. Stemko, Sr., 57, of Drums, passed away Tuesday afternoon, May 20, 2025, at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest in Allentown, following a six-month battle with cancer.

Born in Hazleton, October 1, 1967, he was the son of Sandra (Aten) Stemko, Hazleton; and the late Ralph Crocamo and spent the past 20 years in Drums after moving from Hazleton.

Mark was a 1985 graduate of Hazleton High School and attended Luzerne County and Lehigh Carbon Community Colleges.  He worked for International Paper in Valmont as an assistant supervisor for ten years, had owned The Palace in Hazleton from 2002 to 2021, and was most recently employed at PFNonwovens, Humboldt for over eight years.  Mark loved sports, especially the Cowboys, Yankees and the 76ers.  He adored coaching his sons' football and baseball teams and attending their sporting events. 

He was preceded in death, in addition to his father, by three brothers, Christopher, Ronald and Gary Stemko, and a nephew, Ryan Stemko.

Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his loving wife, the former Allison Volciak, to whom he was married on October 15, 1999; three sons, Mark A. Stemko, Jr. and wife Renee, Hazle Twp.; and Christian and Logan Stemko, both of Drums; a grandson, Fox Stemko, at home; a brother, Joseph Stemko, Mt. Top; a sister, Romilda Crocamo, Philadelphia; father and mother-in-law, John and Sharon Volciak, Hazleton; and several nieces and nephews.

His funeral will be held with a Memorial Service on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 6pm from Harman Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc. (East), 669 W. Butler Dr., Drums.  Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday afternoon from 5pm to 6pm.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, at www.cholangiocarcinoma.org. Online condolences can be entered, and more information is available at www.harmanfuneral.com.

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