Ernest Frederick Koerlin

Ernest Frederick Koerlin

November 24, 1938 - November 7, 2025

Ernest “Ernie” Frederick Koerlin, 86, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2025 in Yellow Springs, Ohio at Friends Care Community. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ernie was the middle child of Ernest William Koerlin and Gladys (Tenney) Koerlin. He graduated from Robbinsdale High School in 1956, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 1961 followed by a Master of Fine Arts from Yale University in 1965.

Ernie began his career teaching printmaking at the Kansas City Art Institute, where he taught for three years before moving to Ohio in 1968 to teach at the newly founded Wright State University in the Department of Art and Art History. Over the next 30 years he helped shape the department as a professor of painting, drawing and color theory. In addition to teaching, his work has been shown in local and national exhibits and he curated numerous art exhibits for The Wright State University Art Galleries. Upon his retirement in 1998, he was honored with the title of Professor Emeritus. Ernie was a mentor to many of his students who went on to become artists in their own right.

An accomplished artist, Ernie was best known for his beautiful en plein air drawings and paintings of landscapes. He painted extensively in Maine and Ohio as well as in California and The Netherlands during his sabbatical years. His work reflected his deep connection to place and his keen sensitivity to color and light. In addition, he engaged in printmaking and for many years was a member of the Dayton Printmakers Cooperative. He was also a long time member of a weekly figure drawing group of local artists and faculty colleagues.

While in art school Ernie met and married his first wife Sandy (Richards) Teepen and had his first daughter, Jennifer “Jenni”. In 1977 he married Deborah “Debbie” Chlebek whom he met at Wright State and had his second daughter, Anna.

Ernie was a kind and quiet man who lived a life devoted to family and painting. He and Debbie shared a life long commitment to art and traveled to art museums all over the world. His favorite pastimes were reading, walking in Glen Helen, canoeing in Canada and enjoying lively dinners and good conversation with friends and family. Ernie will be remembered for his keen artistic eye, his influence as a teacher and mentor, and his quirky sense of humor.

Ernie was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Daniel Koerlin; his sister, Janet Papulas; his father-in-law, Robert Chlebek; his mother-in-law, Margie Chlebek; and his sister-in-law, Jennie (Chlebek) Feldman.

Ernie is survived by his wife of 47 years, Debbie Chlebek; his daughters, Jenni Fearn and Anna Gonzalez; his son-in-law, Zenen Gonzalez; his granddaughters, Chelsea Fearn and Sofia Gonzalez; his brother-in-law, Tim Feldman; his nieces, Joy (Randy) Hunsicker, Jill Carroll, Jamie (Vincent) Sugent, and Emily (Andrew) Loreaux; his nephew, Will Feldman; six great nephews; and three great nieces.

Ernie’s family would like to express their deep gratitude to the entire staff at Friends Care Community for their loving care and support during his last two years. A graveside memorial service was held for the immediate family at Glen Forest Cemetery by Jackson Lytle & Lewis Funeral Home.