A father of four from Wisconsin, John Meise, tragically passed away after collapsing just before finishing his first half marathon at the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon on Sunday morning.
Meise was quickly transported off the course on a stretcher and taken to Froedtert Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. His death’s cause is currently undetermined, as he had no known medical issues, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.
John is survived by his wife, Lauren, and their four children: Mason, 11, Owen, 8, Lucy, 4, and Isla, who is just a year old. His wife indicated that Meise had been running for about six years, making this event his inaugural half marathon.
His sister-in-law, Kristin Bennett, expressed the family’s profound loss on a GoFundMe page set up to assist them. She shared that John was known for making people feel welcomed and valued, leaving a lasting impact on many lives.
A family friend, Stacy Horneck, described John as an exceptional father and husband, emphasizing how much he loved spending time with his family. Horneck set up a Meal Train account to support them during this difficult time, adding that he was genuinely funny, talented, and intelligent.
John graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in journalism and was employed as a brand and digital marketing manager at QuadMed.
Race organizers expressed their heartfelt condolences to Meise’s family and loved ones, emphasizing their sadness over the incident. They noted their appreciation for the medical personnel and first responders who support participant safety during the event.
This incident marked the first death in the 44 years of the race’s history. The event had an unprecedented turnout, with about 8,000 participants registered for the weekend’s races, and around 6,000 runners competing on Sunday.
