- John Meise, a Wisconsin father of four, collapsed less than 600 feet from the finish line during his first-ever half marathon
- The 36-year-old was rushed to Froedtert Hospital after EMTs responded at the 13-mile mark of the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon
- Meise had no known medical history, and his cause of death remained undetermined at the time of reporting
John Meise, a 36-year-old father of four from Wisconsin, died on Sunday after collapsing during the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon, less than 600 feet from the half marathon finish line.
Source: Facebook
A witness reported seeing Meise fall to the ground shortly before 10 a.m. near the 13-mile mark of the course. Emergency medical personnel responded at the scene and administered lifesaving care before he was transported by stretcher to Froedtert Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
According to the New York Post, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that Meise had no known prior medical conditions and that his cause of death remains undetermined.
A father remembered
Meise is survived by his wife, Lauren, and their four children: Mason, 11; Owen, 8; Lucy, 4; and one-year-old Isla. Lauren said her husband had been running regularly for six years, though Sunday's race was his first half marathon.
His sister-in-law, Kristin Bennett, launched a GoFundMe page to support the family and described the magnitude of the loss.
"His loss has left an enormous hole in the hearts of everyone who knew him, especially the family he loved more than anything," she wrote.
Family friend Stacy Horneck, who set up a Meal Train account for the Meise family, also paid tribute.
"He was literally the best Dad, and husband and best to everyone in his world," she said.
"He loved doing everything with his family. To say they're heartbroken is an understatement. He was so funny, and intelligent and talented."
Meise held a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and worked as a brand and digital marketing manager for QuadMed.
First death in race's 44-year history
Race organisers expressed their condolences in a statement, describing the death as deeply saddening. Organisers confirmed that the event maintains on-course medical support and established emergency-response protocols, and noted that participant safety "remains a central priority."
The Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon drew a record turnout this year, with approximately 8,000 people registered across the weekend's races and around 6,000 competing on Sunday alone. Organisers confirmed it was the first fatality in the event's 44-year history.
Source: Briefly News
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