Roxbury Township, Mr. David W. Stulen, 72, died on November 25, 2025 at Morristown Medical Center. My Dave started to write me a letter which he entitled “The Story Of Us” which sadly he never finished. So instead, I hope with his permission to finish it with a few changes starting with the title to “It’s a Wonderful World” because that is how Dave always saw life.

He was born in Boonton, NJ on July 17, 1953 to Foster Stulen, a lead scientist at Curtis-Wright and Ruth Welheimer.  He had a very happy childhood in a home filled with love and eccentric inventions his father created for him and his older brother. Sadly, his father died suddenly when he was 10 and his mother 8 years later. After High school he was accepted into Rider College but instead opted to attend Morris County College so he could stay close to home to care for his ailing mother and aging grandmother who died a year after his mother. He was one credit short of graduating but with these turn of events he was forced to start working full time. He started his career working at Chiani’s Auto Body Shop in Boonton where he later became Proprietor and a familiar face to all in Boonton for many years. But David always had an advantageous entrepreneur spirit and later started a new career with Hyperion Pool Company, where he was Foreman and a skilled Excavator bringing his 2 CAT machines into the business. When I met Dave he was taking night classes at Denville’s Vo-Tech for welding. I think whoever was graced to have known Dave could honestly say how he enriched their lives. Someone recently compared my Dave to the character George Bailey  in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Anyone who had a problem, needed advice or financial support knew they could go to Dave and walk away with a solution.

He is survived by his wife Catherina (nee Martinovich), brother Foster Stulen and (wife Tamara), their children Samatha and Trey, nephews Sam and Christopher Martinovich, their mother Marsha Martinovich (late Sam Martinovich father) my sweet niece Stephanie Frederick and her wonderful husband Marc who have always been there for us, and their children Julia, Tyler, and Amanda. Through all the hardships we faced together you always saw the glass as half full and always gave thanks to God. I am sure you were met with the words “Well done my good and faithful servant”. Every task you ever undertook was always done with perfection. You always considered yourself a craftsman. When we married you undertook the job of being a husband, provider, friend, lover and you did it all with your craftsman perfection. I feel blessed and honored to have been called your wife, you were a wonderful husband and I will always miss you till we are together again.

With Love Always and Forever,
Cathy

Friends may visit at Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ,
973-584-7264 on Thursday, December 4th, from 3 – 6 pm. The Funeral Service will be held on Friday, December 5th, at 1 pm, at St. Therese R C Church in Succasunna.