Margie Gehlhausen, age 85, of Jasper, Indiana, passed away peacefully at the Meadowood Apartments on Friday morning, August 25, 2017 in Jasper, Indiana.
Margie was born in Tell City, Indiana, on December 18, 1931, to William and Josephine (Gratzer) Briggeman. She married Carl Gehlhausen Sr. on May 5, 1948, at St. Paul’s Church in Tell City, Indiana. He preceded her in death on October 24, 1994.
Margie was a pioneer for women’s rights in Indy Car Racing. Starting in early 1970s, she was one of the very first women to be allowed in Indy Car pits throughout the country for practice, qualifying, and for the race itself. In 1976, she became the first woman car owner in the modern day era in Indy Car racing to own, score the race, and have her car compete in the Indianapolis 500. Her son, Spike, drove her car in his rookie year at Indianapolis. She was an intrical part of her husband, Carl Gehlhausen Sr.’s, race car ownership career that spanned over a quarter of a century. Starting in1954, they owned and raced midgets, sprint cars, dirt and Indy cars. In all, 50 drivers drove for the Gehlhausen team; among these great drivers were AJ Foyt, Tom Sneva, Lloyd Ruby, Tom Begelow, and of course, her son Spike, who drove in over 80 Indy Car races throughout his career. Margie and Carl had over 21 feature wins in all forms of racing, with more than 150 Indy Car starts.
In her later years, she enjoyed playing bingo and was an avid reader.
Surviving are her children, Carl “Junie” Gehlhausen (Carrie), Cicero, IN, Jeannie Knies (Joe), Jasper, IN and Daniel “Spike” Gehlhausen (Carolyn), Speedway, IN, six grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren.
Preceding her in death are, two sisters, Marie Hagen and Betty Ransome, and three brothers, Eddie, Bill and Jim Briggeman.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Mass will be held at a later date.
Online condolences may be made at www.becherkluesner.com
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