John Meise Obituary, Milwaukee Runner Dies After Collapsing During First Half Marathon
John Meise, a 36-year-old father of four from Waukesha, Wisconsin, has died after collapsing near the end of the Milwaukee Lakefront Half Marathon on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Meise was running in the Milwaukee Lakefront Half Marathon when he suddenly collapsed on the Hoan Bridge, near the 13-mile mark of the race. Fellow runners and emergency medical personnel immediately responded as efforts were made to revive him.
He was transported by ambulance to Froedtert Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Meise’s identity on October 5 and said there was no known medical history that explained his collapse. His cause of death remains under investigation.
According to reports from local news outlets, Meise was close to completing the 13.1-mile race when he went down. Witnesses described seeing emergency responders perform lifesaving measures before he was taken from the course.
The Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon organizers expressed their condolences to Meise’s family and said they were grateful to the medical personnel, first responders, volunteers and public safety partners who responded to the emergency.
The race, which includes both full and half-marathon events, began Sunday morning with thousands of participants. The course crosses the Hoan Bridge, a distinctive part of the Milwaukee Lakefront race route.
For Meise’s family, the loss has been especially devastating. He leaves behind his wife, Lauren, and their four children: Mason, 11, Owen, 8, Lucy, 4, and Isla, 1.
Lauren remembered her husband as a devoted father, saying he was “the best dad in the world” and lived for his children. Family members described Meise as someone who loved spending time with his family and was known for his humor, intelligence and caring personality.
Meise had been an avid runner for approximately six years, but Sunday’s race was his first attempt at the half-marathon distance. His sudden death has left his relatives, friends and fellow runners mourning a man they described as deeply devoted to his family.
A fundraiser has been established to help Meise’s family with funeral and memorial expenses and provide ongoing support for his four children. The fundraiser describes him as the center of his family’s world and asks supporters to help the family through the sudden loss.
The Milwaukee Lakefront Half Marathon organizers said the safety of participants remains a central priority and noted that the event has established medical and emergency-response procedures, including on-course medical support and coordinated response planning.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Meise’s death. No specific cause of death has been publicly established at this time.
