John Peter Halko, 80, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2024, with his three sons by his side.

Hailing from Freeland, John was the son of John Halko and Susan (Mikitka) Halko. He is survived by his two younger brothers, Tom and Francis, and was preceded in death by his older sister, Lilian.

John cherished his late wife, Ann Marie, who tragically passed away in 2006. Together, they raised three sons: John Joseph, Joseph Michael, and Michael James. After Ann Marie's death, John lived with his son John in Bethlehem.

John honorably served his country in the Army during the Vietnam War. After his military service, he earned an associate's degree from Luzerne County Community College, accumulated many credits from Lafayette, and later completed his bachelor's degree at DeSales University. He worked as a manufacturing engineer, designing and programming CNC operations for hydraulics and automotive parts. His employment included work for Ingersoll Rand, Cooper Industries, Spirax Sarco, Magneti Marelli, and Bosch Rexroth. He also shared his expertise by teaching CNC programming at NCCC. John took particular pride in his contributions to the automotive industry, including parts for Fiat and Harley Davidson.

A passionate science fiction fan, John loved Star Trek, especially the original series, as well as new franchises such as Harry Potter and The Mandalorian. He was a skilled accordion player, a talent he inherited from his father and uncle. In retirement, he enjoyed cooking and exploring new recipes. John spent many evenings ballroom dancing, learning new dances at Marie's Dance Center, and attending local dances at Fearless and other Lehigh Valley venues.

John volunteered at his church, St. Peter and Paul's, assisting with pierogi and halupki making, and actively participated in a Bible study group in Bethlehem.

John had a deep love for pets. Throughout his adult life, he helped care for three cats and two dogs, often working with his wife to rescue pets from shelters or local strays. In his later years, John formed a special bond with his cat Crystal and Mike's dog Opal, who brought him much joy.

John loved the outdoors, and took his family on many camping trips, including outings with Scouting, and later a cross-country RV Trip.  John also participated in several hiking trips with friends and family out west in Utah and Washington state.

John bravely fought lung cancer for many years, facing numerous health challenges. His determination, toughness, and patience through all the complications and procedures highlight his faith and persistence.

John's warmth, kindness, and dedication to his family and community will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Services: A Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 22, at St. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, 1140 Johnston Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18017. A time of reflection and sharing will follow at 12:30 pm at Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church, 3100 Hecktown Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18020.

John's life was prolonged for several years due to a clinical trial targeting his strain of cancer.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cancer Institute Education and Research Fund.

Checks should be made out to "Lehigh Valley Health Network" (LVHN) with "Cancer Institute Education and Research Fund" listed in the memo line.
Checks can then be mailed to:

Office of Philanthropy
PO Box 1883
Allentown, PA  18105