Berlin – Donald A. Wagner, age 75, passed away on August 16, 2019 at Mercy Medical Center of Oshkosh surrounded by his family.
He was born in Berlin on January 27, 1944, the son of Anthony and Lucille (Winters) Wagner.
He graduated from Berlin High School in 1962 and attended college at UW-Platteville where he graduated with a degree in Agriculture Education in 1966.
In July of 1967, he was united in marriage to Sharon Rolph at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Omro, WI. They moved to Greenwood, WI where Don taught high school agriculture for six years. The family then moved back to the Berlin area and he taught agriculture at Moraine Park Technical College for eight years.
Col. Don Wagner called his first auction in 1973. He eventually started his own auctioneering and real estate business, Don Wagner’s Auction Service and Action Agency Real Estate, in Ripon, WI.
On April 12, 2007 he was united in marriage to Darlene Copeland.
As a devoted catholic, Don, was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Omro, WI and later All Saints Catholic Parish of Berlin, WI. Don was also a member of the Wisconsin Auctioneers’ Association, Wisconsin Realtor’s Association, the Berlin School Board and the Nepeuskun Town Board.
Don loved farming, selling real estate and auctioneering, where one would hear him introduce himself as “Don Wagner, Auctioneer, Real Estate Agent and All Around Good Guy”. He enjoyed hunting with his family, adored spending time with his grandchildren and “catching up” on the phone.
Don volunteered his time auctioneering at the Winnebago County Fair, Green Lake County Fair, Ducks Unlimited & Wings Over Wisconsin Fundraisers and any organization that would ask him. He would never turn down an opportunity to volunteer his time or donate to any charity or youth organization.
Don is survived by his wife, Darlene and four children; Steve (Amy) Wagner of Neshkoro, Scott (Jan) Wagner of Ripon, Lisa (Chris) Kurczek of Ripon, Shaun Wagner of Berlin; stepchildren, Jodie Ferguson and Darrin Ferguson; ten grandchildren, Justin, Jennifer, and Jacob (Mariah) Wagner, Brady and Mariah Wagner, Mackenzie, Christopher, Chase, Anna, and Callie Kurczek. He is further survived by siblings, Lila (Ray) Ellis, Ron (Diane) Wagner, Cindy (John) Mullowney; and many nieces and nephews.
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History of Auctioneering
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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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The most expensive port wine sold at auction is a decanter of Niepoort in Lalique 1863 port wine, which sold for HK$1,054,000 (US$134,269; £102,636; €119,489), auctioned by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, China Hong Kong, on 22 March 2019.
The previous record holder was also a 1863 Niepoort in a Lalique decanter, which sold for $126,706.
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