Michael "Mike" R. Stiltner

Michael Ross Stiltner, 56, of Carlisle Pennsylvania, passed away at his home on, Friday, June 14, 2024, with the love and support of his family. 

Mike was born on September 22, 1967 in Sacramento, California, to the late Nelson H. and Dolores Way Stiltner. With his father serving in the United States Air Force, Mike had the opportunity at a young age to experience life in far-away places including Taiwan and the Philippines, but spent most of his childhood into early adulthood in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, savoring the magic of the gulf coast.

In his early teens, rather than participate in typical school sports, Mike chose to sail and waterski most days after school. While attending Ocean Springs High School from where he graduated in 1985, he was chosen to be part of a select group of students to represent their school for a week in Washington, DC. By age 17, Mike was assistant manager of the Ocean Springs Pizza Hut and by 18, he was the general manager. His work ethic was unmatched. 

For 37 years, Mike was committed to the hospitality industry and developing those within it, with 25 of those years through Darden Restaurants. He was a very impactful general manager who exhibited the utmost loyalty and integrity. In 1998, while managing a Fort Walton Beach Olive Garden, he met Susan Rahal, who was working in Olive Garden’s Orlando headquarters at the time. In 2000, by a flip of a coin and a bottle of red wine, Mike and Susan moved to her hometown of Carlisle. They married that October and lived happily together in Carlisle for almost 24 years.

While settling in Carlisle, Mike joined the Carlisle Country Club where he loved playing golf with different groups of friends, many of whom he formed lasting friendships on and off the course, as well as served a term on their Board of Governors in the mid 2000’s. As a proud member of a monthly golf group, the Bailey Club, he always enjoyed helping to prepare some of their special post outing dinners. In contrast to being on the golf course or in the busy restaurant, Mike never missed his yearly camping trip five hours up into the Bradford, PA forests where he could sit around a roaring fire with his buddies, cook on the open flames and relish in having little to no cell service for the next 4 days. Of course, Mike always looked forward to his family trips including Easter in Arizona, hot June in the Florida Panhandle, and the right-before-school-started beach trip to Pawleys Island, SC. Each of these trips was centered around love and fun with his family members, eating good food and drinking good drink.

Mike loved to cook. His family and friends loved that he loved to cook, whether it be a “Stilly steak”, Louisianna style boiled shrimp, or the best grilled corn tortilla shrimp tacos around. His kids, Holly and Nick, grew up knowing Jimmy Buffet’s playlist, because Jimmy was always the Stiltners’ background music in the Southern cook’s kitchen.

He often referred to himself as being “just a simple man”, but in the most authentic way. Mike’s thinking was straightforward, focusing on what mattered including being honest (almost to a fault), trustworthy, pleasing, and patient. He was always finding the good and positive in people and situations. He was truly interested in those around him. He was able to cultivate enduring relationships with all walks of life, through both work and play. Mike lived life with his arms wide open, and if you were one of the lucky ones to fall into them, you knew you had come across someone so real and so special. 

Mike is survived by his wife of 23 years, Susan Rahal Stiltner of Carlisle, PA; daughter, Holly C. Stiltner of Carlisle, PA and son, Nicholas M. Stiltner of Carlisle, PA; one brother, Edward C. Stiltner (and wife Paige L.) of Edgewater, CO; one sister, Kim S. Gosseen of Pensacola, FL; as well as a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, nieces and nephews. 

An on-site service to honor Mike, followed by a festive celebration of his life, will be held on Friday, June 28th at 5:30 p.m., at the Carlisle Country Club, 1242 Harrisburg Pike, Carlisle, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to ECAN (Esophageal Cancer Action Network) at https://ecan.org/give-the-gift-of-hope/ or American Cancer Society at cancer.org/donate.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hoffman Funeral & Cremation, Ltd. 2020 W. Trindle Rd., Carlisle, PA 17013.