Name: Visitation for Don A. Gehrmann
Start: 2022-08-06T15:00:00.000Z
End: 2022-08-06T17:00:00.000Z
Location: Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Care - Madison/Monona

Don A. Gehrmann

Nov. 16, 1927 - July 23, 2022

MADISON - Don Gehrmann, age 94, of Madison, passed away Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Stoughton Hospital. He was born Nov. 16, 1927, to Frank and Mamie (Stremke) Gehrmann. He grew up on the south side of Milwaukee and attended Pulaski High School where he met his future bride, Dolores "Lori" Marine. They were married on July 15, 1950, in Milwaukee. Don and Lori were married for 65 years and had five children, Don (Jane), Tim (Xanthe), Kathy (Mike) Gordon, Jim (Joanna) and Sue Newton. Don is survived by his five children, 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents; wife, Lori; sister-in-law, Shirley Marine; and in-laws, Richard and Helen (Ciganek) Marine.

After public relations jobs with AAA and the Schlitz Brewing Co., he taught and coached at Wauwatosa East High School for 13 years before taking a job with the state government in Madison. In 1977, he was appointed Highway Safety Coordinator under then Governor Martin Schreiber. He retired from state service in 1985.

Dad had a storied record of success on the national and international track and field stage. Coached by Tom Jones at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he qualified for the 1948 U.S. Olympic team by winning the 1,500 meters at the track and field trials in Evanston, Ill. Between 1949 and 1952, he won 39 consecutive major mile races against top national and international competition. During this period, he also won the coveted Wanamaker Mile at Madison Square Garden four years in a row.

Dad was named the greatest miler of the Big Ten's first 50 years but was versatile enough to set the world record in the 880m and 1,000m both outdoors and indoors. At the 1952 British Games, a two-day event, he won the 1,500m with ease the first day and the next day set the world record in the 1,000m.

In 1981, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 2000, he was named one of the 15 top University of Wisconsin athletes of the century.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Don's neighbors, John and Terri, Linda from Home Instead and the staffs at VISTA West and Stoughton Hospital for the assistance and care they provided to Dad.

A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 12 noon on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Rest in peace, Dad, we love you and will miss you.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Madison.com on Jul. 31, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Don Gehrmann

Sponsored by Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Care - Madison/Monona.

9 Entries

Lyle and Ann Wanless

July 26, 2023

Family of Don and Lori Gehrmann;

Don and Lori were so special to our lives and the 45 years we lived at the farmette in Brooklyn. When Don and Lori were in Monona, we woul visit with them on the Lake while we were both members of the Wisconsin Traffic Safety Education Association. We cherished the meetings and leadership Don gave to Wisconsin schools.
In 1975 I was seeking a job with the Wisconsin Technical College system and Don was on the Committee who recommended me for the job which I had for 21 years. When we needed a place to live, Don and Lori invited us to look at the farmette in Brooklyn, and we purchased this wonderful place to live and raise our three sons. Don and Lori would stop in and Don and the Dog would come out and run around on the property.
Don was so humble and I never knew of his legacy in track until I was tearing down a house in Boaz and found the news articles in the walls about Don and his records.

We were up north at an auction staying with Don and Lori, when Don had a tennis gig with some young couple.
Don and his partner let the young couple win a few sets, and then Don told his partner they had better get serious, wow! Don and this lady whopped these two young people and was so modest and polite. Well shortly after that event the garage burned with the trophies and memorabilia of Don's olympic experiences.

We wish each and all of your the best in your endeavors and may the memories of Don and Lori be with us forever.
Lyle and Ann Wanless

Jean Meyer

August 21, 2022

Today I was looking over Meta Lake and said I haven't talked to Don in a while. Well, sad to say, his phone wasn't working, so I googled him and to my surprise he had passed away the end of July. I have always continue a relationship with the Gehrmanns after they left Eagle River. We sang in our church choir and had many happy moments. I am so sadden to hear about his passing. Don, you and Lori are together now so enjoy your reunion. Miss you.

Gary Cohen

August 9, 2022

I am so saddened to hear of Don's passing. He was so generous with his time back in the spring of 2011 to spend 90 minutes on the phone for a wonderful and in-depth, running career retrospective with me. For any of his friends or relatives who haven't seen it, the interview is transcribed at http://www.garycohenrunning.com/Interviews/Gehrmann.aspx Rest in Peace, kind soul, Don Gehrmann

Lyle D. Wanless

August 3, 2022

Ann and I are so sorry about Don's passing and the many memories and wonderful support in our careers and the farm in Brooklyn are so appreciated and will last forever. We will never forget that smile, leadership and dedication to family and friends that Don has done for years.
Our prayers are with the family during their loss and may the spirit of the Lord be with Don.
Lyle

Lyle & Ann Wanless

August 2, 2022

So sorry to hear of Dons passing. We have so
Many great memories of him. From Lyle working for the state to when we bought the farm in Brooklyn from Don & Laurie. He was such a great guy. Sorry for your families loss.

John Ricciardi

August 2, 2022

Mr. Gehrmann was my track and cross country coach as well as driver ed teacher at Tosa East in the mid 60's. He was a great coach and role model for all of us. He inspired us to work hard but also to enjoy what running was all about. (I must admit I hated cross country as I was a sprinter!). I have so many fond memories of Mr. Gehrmann, especially when he was the advisor of the Commons Board. He was responsible for my first "real" job with the Wauwatosa Recreation Dept as a summer playground employee. After college, he helped me get my first teaching job at Sun Prairie Junior High and one year later, recommended me for the Head Track coaching job at Brown Deer High where I worked for the next three years.

Please know that I am forever grateful for the positive impact he had on my life and the mentoring he gave me.

Rick and Jessie Peterson

August 2, 2022

To Jason and Peggy, we are so sorry for your loss. He sounds like he was a wonderful man.

Roland J. Heinkel, Capt. USAF (Ret)

July 31, 2022

To the Don Gehrmann Family:
Your Dad was my boyhood hero as I grew up in Hayward, Wisconsin. I followed his career as he became known worldwide. He put the University of Wisconsin and the State of Wisconsin on the Big 10, national and global map as one of the greatest of all athletes.
I never met your Dad in person. However, in my Madison barbershop was a huge autographed picture of him running the Wanamaker Mile in New York. Every time I had my hair cut, it was like visiting with Don Gehrmann. And, although I never met him, he inspired me on my own achievements. I became a military pilot and spent 35 years as a teacher and principal. I am 89 years young myself.
It was meant to be that I saw the obituary in the Wisconsin State Journal, and truly I'm sorry for his passing. Your Dad had a legion of fans, unknown to him, and I salute him for his leadership and accomplishments that mark a life well-lived.

With deepest condolences,
Roland J. Heinkel, Capt. USAF (ret.)

Fred Milverstedt

July 31, 2022

Here's to him. An early Badgers hero when I was a kid.

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