Father of Four Dies After Collapsing During First Half Marathon
A 36-year-old man collapsed and died while participating in his first half marathon in Wisconsin.
A 36-year-old father of four died on Sunday after collapsing during the Milwaukee Lakefront Half Marathon in Wisconsin. John Meise, who had been an avid runner for six years, was participating in his first 13.1-mile race when he collapsed.
Witnesses saw Meise fall to the ground during the event. A fellow runner and EMTs attempted life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a hospital. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating the death. Meise had no known medical history, according to reports.
Meise is survived by his wife, Lauren, and their four children: Mason, 11; Owen, eight; Lucy, four; and one-year-old Isla. His sister-in-law, Kristin Bennett, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the family with funeral expenses and has described Meise as "the best dad in the world" who "lived for his kids."
The campaign had raised over $7,000 as of Monday.
A spokesperson for the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon offered condolences to Meise's family and loved ones. The statement emphasized the race's established medical and emergency-response protocols, which are developed in coordination with medical and public safety partners, and reiterated that participant safety remains a central priority.