Charles William Meiser

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