Bill Felgenhauer passed away on June 1st, 2026. He and his wife Mary were one of the most iconic couples in the marine industry. Married for 70 years, their company Garhuer Marine was known for its high quality and great engineering. But more than that, they were known as “family” to everyone who ever met them. Mary passed December 31st, 2022.
Garhauer Marine has always been a family business, and will continue to be run by their children, and their children’s children. They are survived by Mark & Tina Felgenhauer, Douglas & Susan Felgenhauer, Daughters Dawn & Gary Graham, Lynn & David Miller, six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
But they will always be remembered as the Mom & Dad of the boat show circuit for decades. They were one of the most beloved couples in the industry.
Family owned and operated, Garhauer is first and foremost a sailor’s company. Both founders and three generations of their families come to work each morning. Among them are no fewer than four sailboat owners, whose vessels offer unique real world “test labs”. This real-world experience is clearly the best way for Garhauer to prove and improve new designs before offering them on this website. The constant obsession with innovation and improvement of the product has been the backbone for growth since day one.
The company was founded by Bill and his friend Guido in 1972. Bill’s motto was that every sailor deserves quality equipment at a fair price.
I know the family will go on, but Bill & Mary will be missed by all who knew them. They were the epitome of what a “family business” should be.
