Artman, Dean
February 27, 2008

Dr. H. Dean Artman, 81, of Pittsfield died Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at Illini Community Hospital in Pittsfield.
H. Dean Artman was born May 26, 1926 in Detroit, Mich., to Henry Ferdinand Artman and Cornelia Randa Artman, and was raised in the Detroit suburb of Huntington Woods. Immediately following his graduation from Royal Oak High School in 1944, he joined the US Navy and received training in the operation and maintenance of boilers at Naval Station Great Lakes and the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He was subsequently assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Franklin and was aboard when she was attacked on 19 March 1945, leaving her the most severely damaged ship to subsequently make port under her own power in World War II. Following his rescue by the USS Hunt, he served the remainder of the war on destroyers.
After the war, he received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Northern Illinois College of Optometry in September of 1949 and practiced optometry in the Chicago area and in Kewanee before settling in Pittsfield in early 1955.
Feb.13, 1956, he married Cornelia Green Graham in Effingham and she predeceased him Feb. 8, 1984. He married Arliss Tucker Godfrey Jan.9, 1987 in Pittsfield and she survives.
Dr. Artman examined eyes and prescribed glasses in Pittsfield from his arrival until he retired in the early 1990’s. He volunteered extensively for the Pittsfield Lions Club for many years. His main avocations were golf, boating, and reading and he was still playing golf as recently as November, 2007. He was a founding member of Old Orchard County Club in Pittsfield and had been a member of the Con Trios Yacht Club and in the St. Louis area. He also enjoyed traveling with Arliss following his retirement.
He is survived by one son, Eric, of Tiburon, Calif.; four stepdaughters, Barbee Swofford (Ken) of Pacific Grove, Calif., Linda Smith (Richard) of Traverse City, Mich., Susan Moses (Michael) of Chicago and Joan Benz (Don) of Payson; 12 grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren.
Visitation was from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26 and services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, both at the Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield. Rev. Linda Peyla officiated. Burial was at the West Cemetery in Pittsfield with military graveside rites by the Pittsfield American Legion Post 152. There was a lunch following the services at the United Methodist Church in the Orr Hall. Those wishing to send contributions in lieu of flowers may donate to the Pittsfield Lion’s Club in furtherance of their assistance to those with vision problems.
The Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield is serving the family of Dr. H. Dean Artman. Condolences may be sent to info@nieburfh.com.

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