Stephen Paul Lisko, 72, of Slovak, Arkansas, passed away on May 23, 2026. Stephen Paul was born on December 18, 1953, to Clementine (“Clemie”) Plafcan and Steve Lisko in Stuttgart, Arkansas.
He proudly spent his life farming, mostly in Slovak, but started in Arkadelphia, where he met his wife, Shaila Evonne Cooper Lisko, with whom he shared 42 years of marriage. He attended Sts. Cyril and Methodius Parochial School through the eighth grade, then went on to graduate from Hazen High School in 1972, where he proudly played football for the Hornets and was named All-Conference. He was a member of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church and served as a Fourth Degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus. He was also the Golden Gloves Boxing State Champion in 1971.
He is survived by his wife, Shaila; three children, Matthew (Rachel), Melissa Saranie (Brent), and Dylan (Kingslei); and nine grandchildren: Nadia, Reece, Lily, Lucille, Brady Paul, Tucker, Cooper, Jolei, and Buck. Stephen Paul is also survived by one sister, four brothers, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Many in Slovak referred to him as “President.” His favorite thing in life was his family. He loved his wife, children, and grandchildren endlessly and was a proud Daddy Paul, Grandpa, and Grampy. He was also notorious for giving everyone he knew and loved nicknames that stuck forever. He loved treating and gifting his friends and family with steaks, kielbasa, fruit, snacks, farm rides, and more. When he wasn’t farming, you could catch him doing his “drive-abouts” (making his rounds), checking on the place he loved most: Slovak. During the winter, he spent his time making his famous kielbasa and being around the people he loved.
He loved taking his children to the beach every chance he got and enjoyed watching them play with their John Deere toys as they built levees in the sand. He loved deer and duck hunting, scoping out animals at night with his children and grandchildren, teaching them about astronomy, fishing, and horse racing. To know him was to love him. He always spoke the truth, no matter what, but delivered it in the most kindhearted way possible. He was a fantastic advisor to anyone and everyone. The world knows, and as he would say, he is “mighty fine, mighty fine.”
Ecclesiastes 11:6: “Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another — or maybe both.”
Services for Stephen will be Saturday, May 30, 2026 beginning at 10:00 A.M. at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Slovak. Interment will follow in the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Cemetery in Slovak.
When I lived in Little Rock Stephen Paul visited often. We had a great time whether we were on the lake in Arkadelphia, gravel roads around Slovak, Clem’s, wherever. Met lots of people from Des Arc, Hickory Plains, Griffithville, Slovak…he knew people everywhere. He will be missed! Loved him like a brother. Condolences to the family.