A Wisconsin father of four collapsed just steps from the finish of his first half marathon Sunday and died at the hospital, leaving his young family shattered.

New York Post reporting identified the runner as John Meise, 36, who went down near the 13-mile mark of the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon half marathon shortly before 10 a.m., less than 600 feet from the finish line.

A witness saw him fall. EMTs gave lifesaving care on the course. He was rushed away on a stretcher to Froedtert Hospital and pronounced dead shortly after arriving. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office said Meise had no known medical history and the cause of death remains undetermined.

It was his first half marathon. His wife Lauren said he had been a runner for the past six years. The race marked the first death in its 44-year history.

Meise leaves Lauren and four children: Mason, 11; Owen, 8; Lucy, 4; and Isla, 1. He worked as a brand and digital marketing manager for QuadMed and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a journalism degree.

Family and friends describe a devoted husband and father

Sister-in-law Kristin Bennett wrote on a GoFundMe page set up for the family that the loss cut deep.

"His loss has left an enormous hole in the hearts of everyone who knew him, especially the family he loved more than anything."

Bennett also said Meise will be remembered for having "a way of making people feel welcomed, valued, and cared for, and his presence made a difference in the lives of so many."

Family friend Stacy Horneck, who set up a Meal Train account, told reporters he stood out as a husband and dad. Sudden losses like this one have left other families reeling in recent months, including the heartbreaking death of Chad Lowe’s daughter Fiona at age 13.

"He was literally the best Dad, and husband and best to everyone in his world."

Horneck added that he loved doing everything with his family and that calling them heartbroken is an understatement. She called him funny, intelligent, and talented.

About 8,000 people registered for the weekend’s races, with roughly 6,000 running Sunday in a record-breaking turnout. The scale of the day made the collapse near the finish line even more jarring for those on the course.

Fellow runner stepped in as medical teams fought to save him

Additional Post coverage described how another competitor immediately tried to help alongside medical staff after Meise went down 600 feet from the finish. The efforts could not revive him.

Bennett said the runner and medical staff “did everything they could but John could not be revived.” She also called him “a husband, father, son, brother, and so much more.” That kind of sudden shock has hit other households hard, as when a childhood friend of a reality TV star died in a fall that stunned those who knew him.

Race organizers issued sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the half marathon participant who passed away following Sunday’s event.

"We are deeply saddened by this loss and are grateful to the medical personnel, first responders, volunteers and public safety partners who support the safety and well-being of participants throughout race weekend."

Organizers said the event keeps established medical and emergency-response protocols, including on-course medical support, and that participant safety remains a central priority. The first death in 44 years still lands as a heavy blow for a community race that drew thousands.

Public mourning for unexpected deaths often stretches beyond one family, much as fans felt the blow when steel guitar legend Tommy Detamore died suddenly at 70.

Meise’s children are now growing up without the father who by every account put them first. A GoFundMe and Meal Train aim to steady Lauren and the kids in the weeks ahead. Other recent farewells have carried the same weight of unfinished time, including coverage of the Lowe family mourning Fiona as the light of their lives.

A strong father gone in an instant leaves a hole no race medal can fill. Families hold the line when leaders and systems cannot.