Arthur James Martin was born in Queens, NY on January 7, 1930.  When Art was in his early twenties, he served in the US Army and was stationed in Germany in the 301st Mobile Radio Broadcasting Company.  He was one of three soldiers who oversaw the shipping and erecting the 180-foot broadcasting tower, and also one of the few who were willing to climb it!

While overseas, Art met Erna Haake.  Art being fluent in German, they fell in love, and at just 22 yrs old, they  married in May of 1952 in Weinheim, Germany.  A love story that spanned 66 years…

Upon returning to the United States, Art worked for Bell Labs and then Monroe Litton.  Art, Erna, and their daughters Ingrid and Nancy were sent back to Germany by Monroe Litton and lived there for nine years while Art worked as a systems analyst.

He was on special assignment through the Air Force working with huge mainframe computers in a confidential location. Art was given an honorary rank of Lieutenant while spending time at the Ramstein Air Force Base where they were able to enjoy Officers’ parties and made lifetime memories and connections and maintained those friendships over the years.  When the family returned to the United States, Art worked for American Hoerst and then for Johns Manville Corp as a Senior Systems Analyst.

In 1966 Art and Erna bought their first home on Schooley’s Mountain, New Jersey with their 3 daughters; Ingrid, Nancy, and Cindy.  Art could build or fix anything, he purchased Heath kits to build the family’s first color TV and microwave.  After retiring from systems analyst work, Art started a locksmithing and home security business.  Art then joined the Morris County Sherriff’s department and earned awards such as a Sharp Shooter, as well as having offices as a certified hypnotist.  He also was a dowser and loved being a ham radio operator.

In 1993, Art retired as Lieutenant with the Morris County Sheriff’s Dept. after 20 years of dedicated service and many certificates of accomplishments.

Art and Erna continued to enjoy their life together, and as they required more personal care later in life, their eldest daughter Ingrid, who lived close by, became their full-time personal caregiver so that Art and Erna could remain living together in their home of 54 years.  A job that can be very challenging at times, Ingrid continued to give support, love and comfort for both of them for 10+ years.

After losing their daughter Nancy in 2014, a few years later, Art lost the love of his life of 66 years.  After Erna passed away, Art moved to Morning Pointe, a memory care facility in Danville, Kentucky in January 2020.

Art loved to visit Brad, Cindy and his grandsons Hunter and Landon on their farm in Perryville KY to assist on checking on the cows and to play endless ball with their 3 Labrador Retrievers, which Art affectionately calls his “Sweeties” and often spoke commands in German to them!

Art navigated through the pandemic, survived having Covid and still going strong, the family affectionately called him “The Tank”.

Although 2020 was a tough year for everyone, Cindy and the boys visited Art any chance they could get and continued to bring him to the farm to watch the sunsets together over a glass of Art’s favorite beer.

Art never stopped loving Erna and continuously spoke about her.  When listening to an Elvis Presley love song just a month ago at an outdoor event, Art asked where Erna was, and when asked why, he said he wanted to tell her “I love you so”, the same words in the song…

Art was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur James Martin and Ida E. Martin, his daughter Nancy Jean Martin, and his 2 grandchildren Christopher Paul Moyer and Dawne Moyer.

Art is survived by his daughters Ingrid E. (Sam) Urban, Cindy (Brad) Simmons, two grandsons, Hunter and Landon, his nieces in Germany Gabi (Matthias) Buschel and Petra (Gerd) Martsch, grandniece Toni Marie (Frederik) Evers, grandnephews Johannes and Paul and several great grand nieces and nephews.

Friends and Family are invited to attend a visitation on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 from Noon to 2:00pm at the Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ, 07840. The funeral service will begin at 2:00pm at the conclusion of the viewing. Interment will take place at German Valley Rural Cemetery, Long Valley, NJ. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.cochranfuneral.com.

N2QAE 73s + 88s Arthur J. Martin  01.07.1930 – 07.19.2021