EC Wisconsin News

Paul Meese, a 1982 graduate of Lakeland University, has established the Paul M. Meese '82 Music Endowed Scholarship to support full-time undergraduate music majors at Lakeland. The scholarship was created in memory of his wife, Ruth, who died from leukemia in January 2019.

“We never saw it coming,” Meese said about his wife's passing.

Meese explained that the scholarship is intended to highlight the role of art and how music can contribute to happiness and peace.

Following Ruth’s death, Meese retired and traveled from Colorado to Michigan without using interstate highways. He drew inspiration from William Least Heat-Moon’s travel book “Blue Highways.” Upon returning home, he began seeing a counselor who suggested he write about his experience with grief. Encouraged by both his counselor and son, Meese authored “19 Days: One Man's Journey Through Grief,” published in May 2021.

“I told her I would think about it,” he said regarding his counselor's advice.

His son supported the idea after learning there were few books on grief written by men.

“He said, ‘She's right Dad. I looked. There are no books written by men. Keep writing,’” Meese recalled.

Writing became an important part of processing his loss for Meese.

“It became cathartic to write,” he said. “Some days it was a lot, and some days not. The process itself kept me focused and processing what I went through.”

Meese’s professional background includes earning degrees from Michigan Tech, Lakeland University, and Michigan State University before working in human resources. Both he and Ruth retired from Front Range Community College in Colorado.

An accomplished musician, Meese has performed with several symphony orchestras including the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra as well as community bands and ensembles. His most recent musical project involved playing jazz and blues with his son on bass.

He is also active in service organizations such as Rotary and Lions clubs and has served on multiple boards related to education, arts, and animal welfare.

Since publishing his book on grief, Meese continues to receive feedback from readers who have found comfort in his story.

“Since writing it, my new goal is to help one more person, and I continue to do that,” Meese said. “I still receive the occasional card or email thanking me for writing the book, telling me how much it meant to them personally.”

Information about purchasing “19 Days: One Man's Journey Through Grief” as well as free resources for those experiencing grief can be found at www.20daysandbeyond.com. Proceeds from sales support a scholarship at Front Range Community College for women entering trades or engineering fields in Ruth’s memory.

Those interested in supporting the Paul M. Meese '82 Music Scholarship at Lakeland can make donations online at https://lakeland.edu/give.