SCHOHARIE — Stephen A. Shako, a Navy veteran who loved farming, died Monday, June 19, 2017. He was 72.

Mr. Shako was born in Troy on July 31, 1944, to Rose (née Flanagan) and George K. Shako.

Mr. Shako served in the United States Navy from 1963 to 1964, during the Cuban Blockade, before being honorably discharged.

He married Arlene Kirchner, described as his soulmate, on Feb. 22, 1970.

He graduated in 1971 from the State University of New York College at New Paltz with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy.

Mr. Shako found his calling going “back to the land,” the family wrote, and worked and managed farms for many years. He and his family finally settled at Brentwood Farm in Schoharie.

Mr. Shako died at the Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albany from an extremely rare form of bile duct liver cancer.  His liver and kidneys were donated to medical science to help learn more about this carcinoma, and there will be a medical journal article written about it, his family said.

He enjoyed deer hunting, camping, and hiking. Mr. Shako also loved studying history and was devoted to his family.

****

Stephen Shako is survived by his wife, Arlene (née Kirchner) Shako; his children, Emily Shako, of Schoharie; Brent Shako, and his wife, Adriana, of Guilderland; his granddaughters, Jocelyn and Gabriella Shako, of Guilderland; and his sister, Susan Shako, of Watervliet.

His brother, Brent W. Shako, died before him

Donations may be made to the Pyramid Life Center, 1 Pyramid Road, Paradox, NY 12858.

— H. Rose Schneider