Ernest "Ernie" William Artman

Birth: May 14, 1925 Fairfield Fairfield County Connecticut, USA Death: Aug. 15, 1996 Fairfield Fairfield County Connecticut, USA

Ernest "Ernie" Artman was the youngest of eleven children born in the family house on Fairchild Avenue in Fairfield, Connecticut to Augusta Lamparski and Henry Artman. His father was from a German family that lived in Poland and this is where he met his wife.

He went to Nathan Hale School (all twelve grades). He met Norma Morgan about 1942 at a cafe called "Donald Duck" on Villa Ave in Fairfield. She was sitting with her sister Kat. Ernest grabbed a chair and sat saddle style and asked her, "Do ya wanna dance?" That was the start of fifty-three wonderful years together.

Within a few months after meeting Norma, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and was sent to the Philippines in the midst of WWII. He was a cook. While there, his entire unit was wiped out except for him. And all because he was away from camp relieving himself in the jungle.

He proposed to Norma while he was in the Philippines. He bought a ring and recorded his proposal on a 45 record and sent them to Norma who was ecstatic and accepted.

They were married shortly after he returned from war. Ernie, having been raised Lutheran, was happily accepted by Norma's Baptist family. He was eventually baptized into the Baptist Church in the 1970's.

Ernie and Norma lived in the family house where he was born. Their first child, William Ernest Artman, was born in Bridgeport Hospital on November 1, 1948. They had a stillborn child named Rick Artman before they moved in 1962 to Pepperidge Circle while Norma was pregnant with daughter Karen. She was born in February 1962.

He started work in the late 1940's at the Peerless Aluminum Foundry on Andover St. in Bridgeport. He got a job as a mold fabricator and eventually became shop foreman. In late 1961, while Norma was pregnant with Karen, Ernie got his hand caught in a machine at the foundry and lost all the fingers of his left hand except they were able to sew his pinky back on. (He was left-handed. He had to teach himself to be right-handed). He worked there for 45 years until he retired. He lost his eyesight due to macular degeneration two years after retiring, but it never seemed to dull his natural cheerful spirits.

His first love outside of his family was being a cartoonist. He was a talented artist and created his own comic strip called "Hat People".

He had a quick wit and was sort of the class clown of the family.

In the spring of 1996 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and his health quickly deteriorated until his death in August. He is sorely missed by his family.

-William Artman Mehlhouse

Ernie's 44 year career at Peerless Aluminum Foundry began in April 1946 after his honorable discharge for the U.S. Marine Corps at the end of World War II.

He started at the age of 21 as a laborer and in a short time was promoted to work as a rammer and was on his way to becoming a molder and then a lead man on the molding line.

In 1957 an overhead hopper and sand conveyor system was installed in the foundry and Ernie was called upon to supervise its operations.

In 1962 he was promoted to foreman of the cleaning department where many changes were made in upgrading the cleaning operations.

In 1970 Ernie was promoted to general foreman of all foundry operations which consisted of the furnace room, core room, cleaning room, sand system and maintenance department,

His experience and skills have contributed greatly to the growth of Peerless Aluminum Foundry Company.

Ernie's outside activities are taken up by his church, Trinity Baptist in Fairfield, where he has served as chairman of the board of trustees and the usher commitee and as a leader of home bible study groups. He is a member of the American Legion and a veteran of World War II.

Ernie and his wife, Norma reside in Fairfield, Connecticut. They have two children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

-Spotlight -- Foundryman of the Month

ARTMAN--Ernest W. Artman, age 71, of Fairfield, beloved husband of Norma L. Artman, died Thursday, August 15, 1996, in his home after a long illness. He was born May 14, 1925 and was a lifelong Fairfield resident.

Mr. Artman was a World War II United States Marine Corps veteran and a retired general foreman at Peerless Aluminum of Bridgeport after 45 years of service. He was a longtime member of Trinity Baptist Church in Fairfield, where he serviced as trustee.

Survivors, in addition to his wife, include his daughter and son-in-law, Karen L and Kenneth R. Clark III of Milfordl two sisters, Freda Mayer of Fairfield and Millie Knecht of Massachusetts; three grandchildren, William Artman Jr. of Fairfield; and Kenneth and Tara L. Clark of Milford and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, William E. Artman.

Funeral services with full military honors will be held on Saturday, August 17 at 10 a.m. in the Trinity Baptist Church, 300 North Benson Road, Fairfield with the Rev. David J. Devries, pastor officiating. Interment will be in Maple Grove Memorial Park, Easton. Friends may call on Friday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Spear Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. Those desiring may make contributions in memory of Mr. Artman to either the hospice at home, 765 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604 or to Trinity Baptist Church, 300 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06430.

-Carrie Kundrath collection

Family links:

Parents:

 Henry Artman (1882 - 1942)

 Augusta Lamparski Artman Rowe (1881 - 1959)

Spouse:

 Norma Lea Morgan Artman (1924 - 2001)

Children:

 William Ernest Artman (1948 - 1968)*

 Rick Artman (1950 - 1950)*

• Calculated relationship

Burial: Maple Grove Memorial Park Easton Fairfield County Connecticut, USA