David Dale Koning, 74, of Monroe, Wisconsin, passed away on Thursday, October 19, 2023.
Dave was born in Sterling, IL on August 8, 1949, the oldest of 8 children born to Willard and Mildred (Longanecker) Koning. He helped on the family farm and enjoyed sports, especially wrestling and football. Dave graduated from Annawan High School in 1967 and was employed by Morton Buildings. He married his high school sweetheart, Rena Detwiler, on October 20, 1968 in Annawan, IL and were married for 55 years.
In 1969, Dave took advantage of an opening within Morton Buildings and relocated to southern Wisconsin. In 1974, with a young family, he graduated from Reisch Auction College and started his career in the auction industry. As a licensed auctioneer in WI and IL, Dave specialized in buying and selling farm equipment. He worked with many area auctioneers and established Koning Auction Service. As Dave and Rena’s four children became involved in 4-H, they began establishing a herd of Angus beef cattle which the family showed throughout the Midwest.
Dave had strong passions for the auction and cattle industries and became heavily involved in the WI Auctioneer’s Association, WI Cattlemen’s Association, Green County Beef Producers, Green and Dane County Fair 4-H/FFA youth auctions and the Green County Cheese auction. Dave and Rena managed the WI Cattlemen’s Steak Trailer for eleven years. Dave humbly accepted accolades for his leadership and volunteer service fostering the success of 4-H and FFA youth. He was an example of hard work and was the first individual to be awarded both the WI Auctioneers Association titles of Ringman of the Year (2007) and WI State Champion Auctioneer (2014). Through these honors Dave was invited to auctioneer at the WI State Fair FFA Foundation Cheese and Cured Meat Products Auctions. In 2022, he was awarded the WI State Fair Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Association’s Friend of the Fair award.
Dave believed in the “conception to consumption” model of breeding, raising and serving high quality beef products to consumers which led him and Rena on several entrepreneurial adventures including Koning Meats and Deli and Koning Maple Lane Event Center. Dave’s dream for Koning Maple Lane Event Center was to provide a gathering space for families and community members to build friendships.
Family was very important to Dave. He especially loved the role of Grandpa and Great Grandpa. He proudly supported his four children and eleven grandchildren by attending their activities and encouraging them to “give 110%” to anything they do.
Dave will always be remembered for his powerful voice from the auction block, his support from the bleachers, his passion for auctions, his never-ending stories, and most of all, his love and pride for his continually growing family.
Survivors include his wife, Rena; children, Matt (Sue) Koning of Amboy, IL, Kris (Curt) Sticha of New Prague, MN, Robin (Matt) Cowden of Mt. Horeb, WI, and Brad (Becky) Koning of Madison, WI; grandchildren, Lea (William) Henert, Cassidy (Kolton) Myrvold, Lane Koning, Erin (Jerod) Novak, Sam Sticha, Sydney, Lydia, and Meredith Cowden, Gillian, Justice and Bentley Koning; great-grandchildren, Wilson and Roy Henert, Brantley Myrvold; siblings, Steve (Judy) Koning, Mark (Karen) Koning, Jim (Mary Ann) Koning, Danny (Lisa) Koning, Kathy (Trey) Barker, and Kevin (Monica) Koning; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Mildred Koning; brother, Joe (Cheri) Koning.
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History of Auctioneering
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The most expensive chess piece sold at auction is an attributed “Lewis Chessmen” piece, which sold for $930,415 (£735,000; €821,769), auctioned by Sotheby’s in London, UK, on 2 July 2019.
The well known Lewis chess pieces originate from the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. The chess piece was discovered in a sand dune on Lewis in 1831 and was sold to an Edinburgh family in 1964 for £5.
It was cherished by the family for years until they realised the piece was a rare walrus ivory chess piece.
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The most expensive dinosaur bones sold at auction is a stegosaurus skeleton nicknamed Apex which sold for $44.6 million (£34.4 million / €40.9 million), including buyer’s premium, at a Sotheby’s auction in New York City, USA, on 17 July 2024.
The 3.4 m tall and 8.2 m long (11 ft X 27 ft) skeleton was discovered in Dinosaur, Colorado in 2022. Seven buyers reportedly took part in the bidding process, with the winning bid made by an anonymous buyer.
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The most expensive cricket bat sold at auction is the bat used by Sir Donald Bradman to hit a triple century in the 1934 Ashes series, which sold for a reported 245,000 AUD (roughly 174,250 USD / 131,750 GBP) at auction, in December 2021.
The winning bidder agreed to keep the willow on display at the Bradman Museum in Bowral, New South Wales, Australia.
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The most expensive piece of James Bond movie memorabilia sold at auction is a silver 1965 Aston Martin DB5, one of four such cars made for the early Bond films featuring all the “Q branch” gadgets including machine guns in the bumpers and a retractable bulletproof rear screen. The vehicle sold for $6,385,000 (£5.2 million) at auction at Monterey, California, USA, in August 2019.
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The most expensive sports trading card sold at auction is a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which sold for $12,600,000 (£10,722,310 / €12,643,344), on 28 August 2022.
The card is from Baseball Hall of Famer Mantle’s rookie season and was bought by its seller for just $50,000 in 1991. It was graded Mint+ 9.5 (out of 10) and was sold through Heritage Auctions.
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The most expensive belt buckle sold at auction is $90,000 (£65,462 / €77,445), paid for a ‘H’ engraved buckle once belonging to Harry Houdini, sold at Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago, Illinois, USA, on 30 October 2021.
The winning bidder was Tarek Tabsh (USA), who bought the item to “honor Houdini’s monumental contributions to magic as an art form”.
The custom “H” buckle was worn by Houdini during his last performance and day of his death.
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The most expensive sports memorabilia sold at auction is a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which sold for $12,600,000 (£10,722,310 / €12,643,344), on 28 August 2022.
The card is from Baseball Hall of Famer Mantle’s rookie season and was bought by its seller for just $50,000 in 1991. It was graded Mint+ 9.5 (out of 10) and was sold through Heritage Auctions.
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The most expensive drum kit sold at auction is Ringo Starr’s Ludwig drum kit, sold at $2,100,000 (£1,395,370, €1,934,890), including premium, at Julien’s Auctions held in California, USA, on 5 December 2015.
The Ludwig drum kit was said to have been used in at least 200 performances since it was purchased by Ringo Starr in 1962.
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The most expensive painting by Monet sold at auction is a 1890 Meules (Haystacks) painting, which sold for $110,747,000 (£85,227,200; €98,572,600), including buyer’s premium, by Sotheby’s in New York, USA, on 14 May 2019.
Completed in 1890, the painting depicts the haystacks of rural Normandy in France. It is one of several paintings in his Meulesor series, commonly known as “Haystacks”. It is one of only four to have been auctioned since 2000 and is one of eight that still remain in private collections.
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