Obituaries

Charles William Meiser, age 86, of Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, passed away in Sault Ste. Marie
on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. He was born in Muncie, Indiana, on January 29, 1940, to
Rolland and Ruth (Wike) Meiser.

Charles was known as “Bill” to his parents and sisters. When he was in elementary school, his
family moved to Bloomington, Indiana. As a child, he developed an early interest in electronics
and how they worked, spending hours taking devices apart and putting them back together. He
was also a member of the Boy Scouts of America. In Bloomington, he attended University
Junior-Senior High School and lived there until 10th grade, when the family moved to Michigan
City, Indiana. After settling there, Bill helped his father build their family home. He attended
Isaac C. Elston High School in Michigan City, graduating in 1958. After high school, Charlie
attended Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, where he earned degrees in 1963 & 1967 with
majors in Economics, Agricultural Economics, and Electrical & Computer Engineering. While in
Lafayette, he met Gretchen Antje Liste, and the two were married on October 24, 1964. They
shared 45 years of marriage before Gretchen passed away in July of 2010. Charlie and Gretchen
moved to Sault Ste Marie in September of 1968 with their toddler son, Mike, so Charlie could
teach at the Michigan College of Mining and Technology (which later became Lake Superior
State College and eventually Lake Superior State University). Their daughter, Kim, was born in
December of that same year. The Meisers loved Laker hockey, and were members of the Soo
Blue Liners, as well as avid fans of Laker basketball and volleyball.

A renaissance man of sorts, Charlie had many interests and shared his knowledge with students
for more than three decades. He delighted in teaching and deeply cared about his students. When
the Meiser children were young, Charlie and Gretchen were foster parents for babies and
toddlers. Later on, they welcomed some of Charlie’s students into their home during summer
breaks. Charlie was also a Sam Walton Free Enterprise Fellow and served as the faculty advisor
for Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE). Each year, he took students to regional competitions and
national competitions in Kansas City, Missouri. Described as caring and helpful, Professor
Meiser taught his students about social responsibility and encouraged them to become more
thoughtful, independent thinkers. He was known as a kind and benevolent man his students could
always count on. Charlie retired from Lake Superior State University in 2002 after 33 years of
teaching as an Associate Professor of Business and Economics.

Outside of his professional life, Charlie had many hobbies, including photography and
genealogy. He enjoyed birdwatching and feeding the squirrels on their property, and he
especially liked watching deer that wandered into their yard, and even the occasional bear.
Charlie and Gretchen lived along the river in Sault Ste. Marie for more than 50 years. Genealogy
and DNA mapping were passions that Charlie pursued with great enthusiasm for many years.
Through his research, he traced his family lineage back to John Howland, who arrived in North
America on the Mayflower. In his later years, Charlie’s work also helped bring people together,
as his research and DNA connections led to adoptees and birth families finding one another.

Charlie is survived by his daughter, Kimberly Ann Frank Markle of Mattawan, Michigan;
granddaughters, Caitlyn E. (Ian Gulbis) Drumm of Parchment, Michigan, Aubrey L. (Sean
Kehoe) Drumm of Southfield, Michigan, and Marlena J. (Will) Marshall of Portage, Michigan;
sisters, Susan Jane (Richard) Brooks of Michigan City, Indiana, and Brigadier General (ret.)
Elizabeth A. (Douglas) Grote of Fountain Hills, Arizona, along with their families.

Charles was preceded in death by his wife, Gretchen Antje Meiser (2010); son, Michael Kevin
Meiser (2025); son-in-law, Darryl J. Markle (2024); as well as his parents and in-laws.

Charlie passed away unexpectedly, yet peacefully, and for which his family is grateful. A
Celebration of Life with his family will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Laker Athletics, LSSU Laker Club, 650 W. Easterday Ave., Sault
Ste. Marie, MI 49783, in Charles Meiser’s name would be a fitting tribute in his memory.

Family Life Funeral Homes – Sault Ste. Marie assisted the family with arrangements.

Condolences may be given to the family at www.familylifefh.com.