The American Folk Art Museum mourns the loss of longtime supporter, artist, and folk art enthusiast Doranna Wendel, who passed away on July 9, 2025 at the age of 71.

Doranna, along with her husband Bruce, who served on the American Folk Art Museum Board of Trustees from 2021 until 2025, was a passionate supporter of historic American folk art. The couple collected widely, and was renowned for their comprehensive collection of historic gameboards, which were featured in two dedicated exhibitions at the Museum, including last year’s Playing With Design: Gameboards, Art, and Culture. The exhibition was celebrated for shining a light on the artistic and cultural merits of gameboards. In recognition of the Wendels’ pioneering vision as longtime champions of gameboards, Emelie Gevalt, the Museum’s Deputy Director and Chief Curatorial and Program Officer, contributed an essay on the exhibition and the legacy of gameboards in the 2024 issue of Americana Insights.

Reflecting on Doranna and her support of AFAM, Jason T. Busch, Becky and Bob Alexander Director & CEO, commented: “Doranna was a talented artist whose eye for composition and style made her an adept connoisseur of American folk art. Together, she and her husband Bruce amassed one of the finest collections of historic gameboards ever assembled. We are so proud to have exhibited their collection in two landmark exhibitions, and are grateful for their generosity in donating many exceptional gameboards to the Museum. We are honored to be the steward of such an exceptional collection. On behalf of everyone at AFAM, we extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Bruce and the entire Wendel family.”