Wisconsin Auctioneers Association (WAA) State Association Formed

The most expensive Gandhara art sold at auction is Buddha Triad and was sold by Eco Ring Holdings (China) at $6,630,000 (£4,892,170 / €5,869,460) which was auctioned at Christie’s in New York, USA, on 23 September 2020.

The auction was held as part of Asian Art Week 2020. The Buddha Triad was a gray schist relief triad of Buddha Shakyamuni with Bodhisattvas. The art piece was estimated to be dated from the 3rd-4th century CE.

The most expensive real property sold at an online auction is 190,623,988.44 USD (700,200,000 AED), and was achieved by Emirates Auction (UAE), in Dubai, UAE, on 15 January 2020.

Dubai Courts sold the most expensive property at an online auction through Emirates Auction for AED 700,200,000 (USD 190,623,988.44) in Dubai, UAE on 15 January 2020

The most expensive real property sold at an online auction is 700,200,000 AED, and was auctioned by Emirates Auction in association with Dubai Courts.

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.

Eden – Patrick F. O’Brien, 84, of Eden passed away on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at St. Agnes Hospital with his family gathered around him. He was born in Fond du Lac on July 27, 1934, the son of James H. and Estelle M. (nee Stack) O’Brien. Pat served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1953 until 1955. On June 7, 1958, Pat married Marilyn R. Laudolff at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fond du Lac. He ran his own trucking business and then began working at the Lomira Auction Market. Pat along with his brother Jim joined their father and uncle in running O’Brien Brothers Auctioneers doing farm and household auctions, a business started in 1920. Pat also worked at the Milwaukee Stock Yard and was involved in O’Brien Livestock. He was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Order of Foresters, the Empire Thresheree, the Eden Volunteer Fire Department, was a lifetime Member of the Eden Fire Department Association, and the Wisconsin Auctioneers Association. Pat was also involved in the FFA, the O’Brien Scholarship and in area 4-H Clubs. He did auctioneering at many county fairs, the Wisconsin State Fair, and at numerous benefit fundraisers. He also did auctioneering and was a member of Duck’s Unlimited. Pat enjoyed going to casinos, fishing, attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, but most of all, spending time with family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn; children, Ann (Chuck) Geiger, Pat O’Brien, Bill (Kathy) O’Brien, Kevin O’Brien, Dave (Pam) O’Brien, and Lynn and Pat Brown; grandchildren, Erik (Sara), Corey, Tara, Joe, Tim (Brittany), Kaitlyn (John), Alicia, Jake, Wyatt, Becca, and Mike; great-grandchildren, Emmett, Jackson, Lincoln, and Letilyn; brother-in-law, Willie Gellings; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter-in-law, Sue O’Brien, sisters, Florence (Frank) Flood, Helen Gellings, Alice Michels Riegert (Arlyn Michels and Norb Riegert), and Sister Michaela O’Brien, CSA, brothers, Tom (Coletta) O’Brien, and Jim (Helen) O’Brien.

Dale Moore, age 57 of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin died unexpectedly Monday, August 30, 2010 at his residence.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at the Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Wisconsin Dells with Reverend Joan Smoke officiating. Burial will be at Lake Delton Village Cemetery in Lake Delton, Wisconsin. Visitation will be held at Holy Cross Episcopal Church on Friday from 4 to 7 P.M. and on Saturday from 10 A.M. until the time of service at 11 A.M.
Dale was born May 13, 1953 in Reedsburg, Wisconsin the son of Arthur and Lois (Retzlaff) Moore. He graduated from Reedsburg High School in 1971 and furthered his education at UW-Baraboo, receiving an associate degree. In May of 1975 he married Jean Stevens at Holy Cross Episcopal Church. He was a realtor for many years, owning and operating Home Hunters Realty in Reedsburg. He was a member of the Wisconsin Realtors Association and was a certified appraiser and auctioneer. Dale was involved in his community serving as president of the Sauk/Columbia Board of Realtors, member of the Mirror Lake Property Owners Association and Mirror Lake Management District, served on the Holy Cross Church Vestry, and was a member of the Dells/Delton Church Corporation Board. Dale also enjoyed hunting, fishing, pontoon boating, tinkering on vintage cars, working on his hobby farm and cutting fire wood.
Dale is survived by his wife, Jean; sons, Kirk (Stephanie) of Fox Lake, Wisconsin and Mark (Kathryn Heitman) of Wisconsin Dells; daughters, Laura (Chad) Colt of St. Paul, Minnesota and Mary Jean Moore of Wisconsin Dells; grandchildren, Jasmine and Isabelle Moore; his father, Arthur Moore of Reedsburg; a sister, Ardith Porter of Madison, Wisconsin; and a niece, Jamie Porter of Madison. He was preceded in death by his mother; brother in law, Julius Porter and a nephew, Matthew Porter.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Holy Cross Episcopal Church.

Randolph A. “R.A.” Thiel, age 93, of Chilton, died on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton, surrounded by his family. He was born January 6, 1923 in Fond du Lac, son of the late Andrew “Col. A.J.” & Florence (Bargenquast) Thiel. He married Armella M. Gerhartz on May 15, 1943 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Stockbridge.

Shortly after marriage, R.A. served in the United States Merchant Marines from 1944-1945. After completing his service, R.A. settled outside Hilbert and began raising his family and establishing himself in the family business. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Hilbert, VFW Post 3153 and American Legion Post 125 in Chilton, the Knights of Columbus, the National & Wisconsin Auctioneers Associations, and the Wisconsin Real Estate Association.

R.A. lived a long and storied life in which his living presence was larger than life itself. The ambition he showed and the knowledge he possessed garnered people’s admiration and respect in all he did. He held a very strong work ethic and loved every moment he spent working when he owned and operated Thiel Real Estate and Thiel & Thiel Auctions.

In his time away from work, R.A. loved to go hunting; he had an eagle eye, spotting game before everyone else and made shots no other hunter could comprehend. He also enjoyed many of the finer things in life; things like good food, good wine and good times. The best three things in his life were being married to Armella, traveling to 109 locations throughout the world with her, and working in the Auction & Real Estate Business for 58 years.

Survivors include his children: Jerry Thiel, Jack (Vicki) Thiel, Tom Thiel & his fiancée Maggie; 5 grandchildren: Dori (Tim) Duchow, Brad (Dawn) Thiel, Kendall (Cindy) Thiel, Tamara (Nick) Geiser, Miranda Thiel; 12 great grandchildren: Kale, Keaton, Ashley, Brittney, Andrew, Alisa, McKenzie, Brady, Carliann, Lukas, Bennett & Ella; 4 great-great grandchildren: Lyden, Oliver, Magnolia & Jayden; and his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Lula Schoen, Ruth Gerhartz, Bernita Perry, Marvin (Phyllis) Gerhartz, Lyle (Betty) Gerhartz, Donna Commerford and Mary Jane Gerhartz. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

R.A. was preceded in death by his parents; his wife: Armella; a daughter: Jane Thiel; and a sister: Elaine (Ralph) Daul.

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).

Robert Dean Mullikin, age 81, of La Prairie Township, died on Sunday, April 10, 2016, at Mercy Hospital & Trauma Center. He was born in Prairie du Chien on Aug. 2, 1934, the son of Louis and Susan (Duffrin) Mullikin. He graduated from Janesville High School in 1952. Bob married Lucille Mooney in St. Patrick Catholic Church, Janesville on Oct. 17, 1953. He was involved in many agricultural activities with people of all ages. He was a long time La Prairie 4-H leader and was involved in the Rock County 4-H Meat Animal Sale for 30 years as an auctioneer. He was a UW Ag Short Course graduate, became a Fair Sheep Show Judge and was on the Executive Committees for the 1988 and 2001 Rock County Farm Progress Days. He was always a leader and participated in the WI Grain Dealers Association, Wisconsin Auctioneers Association and was a member of the Clinton School District School Board. He served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the Janesville Chamber of Commerce for many years. He was an avid sports fan being a Wisconsin Badgers Booster and Packers fan. He spent many winters in Hawaii and Naples, FL. Bob expected the best from others and they seldom let him down. He was generous, thoughtful, sincere and made friends wherever he traveled. Bob is survived by his wife, Lucille Mullikin; 4 children: Sandy (Roger) Douglas of Milton, Sharon Mullikin of Janesville, Robert (Fiance Theresa) Mullikin of Janesville and Michael (Kelly) Mullikin of Janesville; 4 grandchildren: Jennifer (Andy) Peterson of Madison, Beau (Lindsey) Douglas of Milton, Rylee Mullikin of Janesville and Blaine Mullikin of Janesville; 3 great grandchildren: Ben and Kellan Peterson of Madison and Austin Douglas of Milton; sister, Marilyn Meyer of Janesville; many other extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

William “Bill” Edward Miedema, 88, of South Beloit, IL, passed away March 10, 2015 at Willowfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Delavan, WI. William was born May 7, 1926 in Brodland, SD, to Claus and Rachel Miedema. Bill attended school there until enlisting in the United States Navy and serving in the South Pacific Arena on the USS Saratoga-03 in World War II. He later received a purple heart for his military service. Bill married Carol Williams Ranft in Huron, SD on December 19, 1947. After working for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad in South Dakota, he opened an Auction House in Huron, which he and his wife owned until moving to the Stateline area in the 1960’s. Bill and Carol operated Miedema Auction in South Beloit, IL until 1980. He then continued auctioneering for many years with Beloit Auction Service, a family business. Bill was awarded the coveted Golden Gavel by the State of Wisconsin Auctioneers Association for his 50 years as an auctioneer. Bill participated in the first Vets Roll trip to Washington D.C., where he rekindled memories of his WWII service. Known as “Wild Bill” to many, he leaves a legacy of pride in his service to his country, love of his family and special friends, and memories of his years as an auctioneer. Bill is survived by his two sons, Richard (Pat) Ranft of Beloit, WI, and Michael (Linda) Miedema of Hockley, TX, two daughters, Debora (David) Burdick of Sun Prairie, WI, and Beth (David) Norris of South Beloit, IL, six granddaughters, Tracy (John) Ferraro of Arlington Heights, IL, Nichole (Brad) Cheske of Beloit, WI, Erica (Gabriel) Vogel of Austin, TX, Danielle (Jason Hawkins) Burdick of Madison, WI, Jessica (Logan) Lucas of Austin, TX, and Darcy Burdick of Sun Prairie, WI, three grandsons, William Burdick of Madison, WI, Joshua Norris of South Beloit, IL, and David (Kristin Toon) Norris of Freemont, CA, fourteen great-grandchildren, three brothers, Claus Jr, Steven, and Eddie, and two sisters, Lillian, and Nellie, and his dog, Willie. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, and three brothers, James, Robert, and Clarence.