Erline Stutsman

Erline Mamie (Boeke) Stutsman

July 7, 1929 – September 2, 2026

Erline Mamie (Boeke) Stutsman, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, wife, friend, and faithful servant of the Lord, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on September 2, 2026, at Haven Hospice in Chiefland, Florida.

Erline had looked forward to meeting Jesus for a very long time. She spoke often and joyfully about Heaven, describing it as a place filled with flowers, music, and beautiful things. Her description of Heaven was more than a picture in her mind—it was a reflection of the hope and faith that guided her entire life. She loved the Lord deeply and believed that her ultimate purpose on this earth was to share the Gospel and the love of Christ with everyone she encountered.

Born on July 7, 1929, in Evansville, Indiana, Erline was the daughter of Albert T. Boeke and Alma (Roeder) Boeke. She grew up working on her parent's farm and learned early the value of hard work, family, perseverance, and faith. She graduated from Reitz High School in Evansville.

On December 25, 1947, Erline married the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Stutsman. Together they built a life centered around family, faith, hard work, and adventure. In 1956, Erline and Bob moved to Plant City, Florida, with their three children. In 1962, they moved to Lakeland, Florida, where together they built and operated Stutsman Insurance Agency.

In the mid-1970s, Erline and Bob retired from the insurance business and began a new chapter as owners and operators of Stutsman Trucking. Their work took them all over the United States, and some of Erline's favorite memories were made along those highways. During those years, she and Bob often took their grandchildren with them, traveling across the country and making memories that would last a lifetime. Her grandchildren fondly remember riding along on the “dogbox,” turning ordinary truck routes into unforgettable family adventures.

When Bob's health began to decline, they eventually settled into a quieter life. In 1987, Erline and Bob moved to Chiefland, Florida, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. After Bob's passing on May 17, 1997, Erline continued to live a life of purpose, service, friendship, and faith.

In Chiefland, she became well known as the Fuller Brush lady, traveling throughout the area from Gainesville to Chiefland and everywhere in between. She made countless friends along the way, and her genuine interest in people meant that she rarely met a stranger. Whether she was working, visiting, caring for someone, or simply sharing a conversation, Erline had a way of making people feel remembered and loved.

Erline was a caregiver throughout much of her life, always finding ways to serve others. She loved singing solos in church and playing the piano and was a longtime member of Family Bible Chapel in Chiefland. Her faith was never something she kept to herself. She carried it with her everywhere she went and looked for opportunities to tell others about the Lord she loved.

Her love of flowers was one of the most recognizable parts of who she was. Erline had a true green thumb and was especially known for her daylilies and orchids. Her gardens were a source of great joy, and she was always willing to share what she knew—whether the person on the receiving end had a green thumb of their own or not.

She also loved sewing and spent countless hours making quilts. Her hands were rarely idle, and the things she created were more than crafts—they were tangible expressions of her love, patience, and care for her family.

Erline was preceded in death by her husband, Robert “Bob” Stutsman; her parents, Albert T. Boeke and Alma (Roeder) Boeke; and her siblings, Nancy Westenbarger, Elinor Boeke, Mary Fricke, and Lonnie Boeke. She is survived by her sister, Kathlyn “Alby” Yargagaray.

She is survived by her three children, Cynthia Munkittrick, Cherri (Lewis) Prevatt, Robert “Kirk” Stutsman, and seven grandchildren: Mike Munkittrick, Natasha Allen, and Andy Munkittrick; Sunshine “Sunny” Baynard, Bobby Prevatt, Doug Prevatt, and Katrina Higginbotham; and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Family relationships brought Erline great joy and filled her later years with love, laughter, conversation, memories, and companionship. She was surrounded by family who loved her and each of whom, in their own way, became an important part of the final chapter of her life.

Erline leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured simply by the number of years she lived, but by the lives she touched along the way. She was a woman who worked hard, loved deeply, served faithfully, planted flowers, made quilts, sang praises, played the piano and the organ, traveled the country, cared for others, made friends wherever she went, and most importantly, shared her love of the Lord.

She spent a lifetime telling others about Jesus.

Now, at last, she has met Him.

And we can imagine that Heaven looks very much like the place she always described—full of flowers, music, and beautiful things.

Until we meet again, Mom.
Grandma.
GG.

You finally made it home.

A Celebration of Erline’s Life

A memorial service celebrating Erline’s life will be held September 11th at 6:00 p.m. at Haven Hospice Tri-Counties Care Center, 311 NE 9th Street, Chiefland, Florida. Erline's dear, beloved friend, Jerri Lunsford will be officiating.

Following the memorial, family and friends are invited to share a meal together as we remember Erline, share stories, and celebrate the life she lived and the many lives she touched.

Please come as you are, bring your memories, and join us in giving thanks for a life well lived and a woman who spent her life pointing others toward Jesus.