Staff Reports
Jerry and Louise Artellan were married Aug. 7, 1948, at the Carmel Mission, Calif., where seven generations of their families have been baptized and married.
The Artellans grew up four miles apart on the Monterey Peninsula and have been residents of Gardnerville for 16 years. They are members of St. Gall Catholic Church.
Jerry Artellan worked construction, did hay baling and operated heavy equipment until he went back to school to become a civil engineer. He was employed with Neil Engineers in Carmel for 34 years.
Louise worked in daycare part-time and ran a Little League snack bar while raising the couple's children: Joanne and Geraldine live on the Monterey Peninsula and Benny Artellan lives in Gardnerville. The Artellans have four granddaughters and three great-granddaughters.
Jerry was assistant volunteer fire chief for 30 years in the Carmel Highlands Fire Department and coached Little League baseball. Jerry and son Benny worked as "weekend cowboys" for 10 years on a cattle ranch.
After the Artellans retired to Gardnerville, Jerry coached Little League for 10 years and has been a volunteer at the Carson Valley Community Food Closet for 12 years.
About the longevity of their marriage, Jerry said, "Some said it wouldn't work, but we fooled them.
"There are people married 50 years who say they've never had an argument " I want to see that," he said. "But through good times and bad times, it's that old thing called love."
The Artellans plan to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary at the Carson Valley Inn.
