Donn Gurney
October 17, 1936 - October 18, 2026
Obituary
Donn Franklin Gurney, age 90, passed away on October 18, 2026 at home in Marshall, Wisconsin.
Donn was born in 1936 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of Ben F. and Agnes A. Gurney. He attended Madison West High School and Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, Minnesota, before graduating from the University of Wisconsin.
Donn began his career in the family business, the Madison Silo Company. He later joined the First National Bank of Madison, where he met Susan Wedeward. The two married in 1963.
He went on to own and operate Donn Gurney Imports in Middleton, Wisconsin, selling Fiat, MG, Triumph and Jaguar sports cars. He then became director of Correction Industries for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, overseeing training and production facilities that manufactured license plates and furniture used by state governments throughout the United States. Donn later moved into property development with The Carley Capital Group under the leadership of James Carley.
In the 1990s Donn founded Race Legends, beginning a long tenure representing retired Formula One and other motorsport celebrities, including Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Stirling Moss and Phil Hill. In retirement he lived quietly in Marshall, Wisconsin.
Donn had a lifelong interest in duck hunting, trap shooting, sports cars, aviation, sailing and Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey. He was exceptionally well read and was known as an entertaining guest at dinner parties.
Donn is survived by his wife of 63 years, Susan Wedeward Gurney; his son Christian Gurney and his wife Carolyn; his daughter Caroline Webster and her husband Pat; his daughter Elizabeth Dederich Halbleib and her husband Charles Halbleib; his grandchildren Tammy Pulvermacher, Jacqueline Gurney, Tyler Gurney, Esa Dederich and Dek Dederich; and his great-grandchildren Anthony Ramsey, Caydin Ellis and Bentley Romprey.
He was preceded in death by his brother Richard Gurney and his parents, Ben F. and Agnes A. Gurney.
There will be no services. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Cradle at https://www.cradle.org/support-the-cradle/ways-give/make-donation/. Ryan Funeral Homes is assisting the family.
Learn more about Donn's Race Legends agency at https://www.mecum.com/articles/the-race-legends-collection-on-time.