Peter Yaremko, 75, of Cape Girardeau passed away Monday, October 8, 2012, at his home after a very brief battle with cancer. He was born November 10, 1936, in Berlyn, Western Ukraine, to Mykola and Maria (Martyniuk) Yaremko. He and Mary Goletz were married August 8, 1970.

Peter attended La Salle University in Philadelphia earning his Undergraduate Degree and then attended Indiana University in Bloomington, IN earning his Postgraduate Degree.

Peter taught political science at Southeast Missouri State University for 34 years, retiring in 1999. He relished his years teaching and felt his students’ success was his success. His favorite piece of advice to students being, “Study like hell and don’t worry about it.”

He was a member of St. Josaphat’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Bethlehem, PA., and attended St. Mary’s Cathedral in Cape Girardeau, MO.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughter and son-in-law, Alexandra (Yaremko) and Steve Laurence and their daughter, Eva, Springfield, MO; son, Mike Yaremko, Cape Girardeau, MO.; sister, Stephanie Yaremko, Tamaqua, PA.; brother, Jerry ( Nadine) Yaremko, Palmerton, PA.; brother-in-law, Ted (Connie) Goletz, Bethlehem, PA and brother-in-law, Ihor Peter Goletz, Brookhaven, PA; as well as many nieces and nephews in the United States and Ukraine.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law, Mychajlo and Stefania Goletz; sister Oksana Yaremko; brother and sister-in law, Mychajlo and Eugenia Yaremko; sister and brother-in-law, Anna (Yaremko)and William Naydan; and sister-in-law, Olesia Goletz.

A viewing will be held on Friday 8:45-9:30AM with a Panachyda at 9:30AM all in Kohut Funeral Home, Inc. 950 N Front St. Allentown, PA 18102. Office of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30AM in St. Josaphat’s Ukrainian Catholic Church 1826 Kenmore Ave Bethlehem, PA 18018. Burial to follow in St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, Northampton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests Masses in his memory or memorial donations to St. Josaphat's or to Food For the Poor (6401 Lyons Rd, Coconut Creek, FL 33073).

He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, especially his “favorite” grandchild, Eva.