Jack Brodersen Findlay, age 90, of Herbster, WI passed away peacefully Sunday, February 6, 2022, at St. Luke’s Hospice in Duluth, MN. He was born June 17, 1931, on a farm in Harlan, Iowa, the son of Forrest and Regina “Jennie” (Brodersen) Findlay.
Jack grew up on the family farm at the tail end of the Depression – during which, as he would later make sure to tell his grandchildren, he ate lard sandwiches. Harlan, Iowa is also where he graduated from high school, after which he pursued his passion for baseball. His father taught him the game by playing catch for hours after farm chores were finished. However, it was the true practice of throwing rocks at glass insulators on power lines while walking to and from school that trained his pitching arm. At 6’5”, Jack’s presence on the pitching mound was bolstered by his physics-defying knuckle ball and circle change-up. He pitched not only in the U.S. Air Force, but he also played semi-pro in the minor league farm systems for the Cubs and Cardinals, both before and after his military service. It has been said that Jack could pitch a blueberry through a battleship.
Jack served for four years in the USAF during the Korean War and was honorably discharged. After his military service, he attended Iowa State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural and mechanical engineering.
On October 11, 1972, he married Marie Jane Rondeau in Sioux Falls. Jack worked in sales throughout the agricultural machinery industry for over 30 years, supporting a region in the upper Midwest and Canada. He worked with Erickson and International Harvester, then joined Shank Power Products in 1973 and retired as their President in 1993. Jack was also licensed as a real estate agent and auctioneer.
He served on boards for both the South Shore School District and the Town of Clover, and he was a member of The American Legion, Herbster Business Association, Herbster Community Club, and the Wisconsin Auctioneers Association.
Jack was happiest spending time with his family during Christmas and Fourth of July gatherings at the house on Bark Point in Herbster, WI. He also enjoyed fishing, reading, playing cards, grilling, and watching all Wisconsin or Minnesota sports teams. Jack was a regular for breakfast at Pinecone Ole’s, and he spent his evenings enjoying the view of Lake Superior while sipping single-malt scotch or dry martinis and sometimes both.
Affectionately referring to him as “Big Jack,” Jack’s family will remember him for boat rides on Lake Superior, mowing walking paths through the woods of Bark Point, and reading hard copies of magazines from his faithful armchair. They remain grateful for the years they heard his familiar and hearty “‘Yello!” each time he answered the phone, as well as the customary “Dammit!” whenever Marie fed the Christmas pot roast to the dog under the dinner table.
Jack was steadfast, loving, hardworking and loyal: a salt-of-the-earth man who lived his 90 years well. He is loved, missed, and celebrated.
Jack is survived by his children, Jennifer (Sam) Heimlich, and John (Michelle) Findlay; stepsons Dierck (Melinda) Oosten and Dustin (Wendy) Oosten; daughters-in-law Catherine (Joel) Findlay and Margaret (Scott) Findlay; 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Betty Findlay (1991); his first wife, Donna Jean Petersen (Findlay, Mount) (1998), his second wife, Marie (2011); and sons Joel Findlay (2004) and Scott Findlay (2021).
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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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