John A. “Jack” Artman, 87, passed away July 1, 2026, at his Colorado Springs home.
Services will be held Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Holy Apostles Catholic Church, 4925 E. Carefree Circle. Viewing will begin at 9:30 a.m., with a funeral mass at 11 a.m. A light lunch will be served afterward at Mary’s House on the church property.
Jack was born Dec. 2, 1938, at Scales Mound, Illinois, to Alvin and Lovamae (Baumgartner) Artman. He was the oldest of four surviving children. He enjoyed telling stories of his childhood, which included attending a one-room school and once “accidentally” driving a crank start truck into a pond.
He graduated from Wapakoneta (Ohio) High School and joined the armed forces immediately afterward. While serving at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska, he met and married Margaret “Judy” Kelly. They were married for over 50 years until her death in 2015. They had three daughters: Kelli, Randi, and Teri.
A lifelong lover of learning, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska in 1967 and his Master of Arts degree from Webster University in 1975. He also studied maintenance management information systems at the Air Force Institute of Technology (1973) and National Security Management at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (1974). He could be found many weekends at the library catching up on world news and college sports. He also enjoyed genealogy and learning the origins of his family.
As a member of the U.S. Air Force, he served in Vietnam and in locations in the Midwest United States. He retired in 1977 after achieving the rank of captain. He moved his family from Altus, Oklahoma, to Colorado Springs, where he lived until his death. He had a second career with Mountain Bell (later U.S. West) and retired from that company as well. He volunteered for many years for local veterans causes and was a long-time member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 26 in Colorado Springs. He attended Holy Apostles Catholic Church where he served as an usher, often recruiting young parishioners to help out. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. His daughters and many of his friends remember him for his arsenal of “dad jokes,” which he enjoyed sharing (sometimes more than once) with anyone who would listen.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Judy, sister Caroline Harshbarger, and granddaughter Barbara Artman.
Survivors include his daughters: Kelli (Kerry) Turnbow of Rogers, Arkansas; Randi (Ralph) Spaw of Colorado Springs; and Teri (Joe) Erickson of Enchanted Oaks, Texas; grandchildren: Jaime Finch of Wasilla, Alaska; Richard Hoglin of Anchorage, Alaska; and Christina (Brian) Earhart of Anchorage, Alaska; and great-grandchildren: Halle, Layla, Richard, Tukker, and Kash Hoglin; Samora and Jadeon Artman; Jaxon Finch; and Arya and Brynn Earhart. Other survivors include his brother Jim (Patti) Artman, sister Alice Perritt, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Arrangements are being entrusted to the Shrine of Remembrance Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of Jack to the Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in Colorado Springs: 530 Communication Circle, Colorado Springs, CO, 80905.