Eugene Merwin Stoltzman

Eugene “Gene” Merwin Stoltzman, age 79, of Brainerd, MN passed away on Thursday, November 21, 2019 at the Bethany Samaritan Home in Brainerd with his loving family by his side. He was born on February 4, 1940 in Hugo, MN the son of Clyde, Sr. and Irene (Root) Stoltzman.

Gene grew up in the Lawrence Lake, Bovey, Coleraine area and graduated from Greenway High School in 1959. Following school, Gene entered the United States Army and served his county for the next four years. While he was in the service, he met and married Sandy Johnson in Grand Rapids in 1962. Gene would serve another year before coming home to Sandy. Upon his return they moved to the cities where Gene would find employment with 3M in St. Paul. He would continue to work there for the next 33 years before retiring and returning north to Emily in 1996. Gene was a people person who was very outgoing and could talk to anyone. He was very active in the community and kept in touch with the people he went to high school with. Gene loved to be with his family and would always focus on what they were doing and their activities. He loved to fish, play in his poll barn, use his toys like his tractor and 4-wheeler, getting together with his family especially his grand and great grandchildren, going camping, being outside in his yard, and having fun with all his Scottie dogs. Gene was also a master at welding and made some unique projects. Gene was also very proud of his son in-law Greg. He took him under his wing from the moment he met him, and he considered Greg the son he never had. Gene was loved by everyone and he will be sadly missed by all his family and friends.

The family that Gene joins again are his parents, Clyde and Irene; brother, Clyde Stoltzman, Jr.; sister, Sharon Praentala and one grandson, Ryan Ulstad.

Those he leaves behind to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 58 years, Sandy Stoltzman of Brainerd; daughters, Jean Ann (Greg) Lynch of Walker and Holly Jean Olson of Brainerd; brother, Terry (Susan) Stoltzman of Deer River; grandchildren, Cory Lynch, Brittany (Jack) Lynch and Megan (Jeremy) Tonn; great grandchildren, Carley Lynch, Taylor Tonn and Kaylee Tonn, numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

A celebration of life for Gene will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 6, 2019 at the Cross Lake American Legion Post 500. Visitation will be held one hour prior.

Gene’s care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker, MN. Online condolences for the family may be given at www.northernpeace.com