The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame joins with the Ozarks in mourning the recent passing of Michele Kiser, a wife, mother, business leader and true friend.
Michele passed away on New Year’s Day and funeral services are at 1 p.m. Monday (Jan. 5) at Greenlawn Funeral Home East. Among survivors are her husband Marc and son Mitchell, both of Springfield, and mother Wanda Carr Knight of Lebanon.
Michele opened and owned Advertising Plus beginning in 1989.
For almost 15 years, the company has been a corporate sponsor of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, which last month announced its John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award will be presented to Advertising Plus. The award is given to someone who plays a significant role in the advancement of sports in the state of Missouri and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Advertising Plus is the first female-owned company to receive the award in its 13-year history. The award will be presented during the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s annual enshrinement ceremony Jan. 25 at the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center.
“She was a delightful individual to work with,” Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director Jerald Andrews said. “She was always helpful to us as she knew we were managing not-for-profit organizations.”
Michele’s company participated in a number of different ways, including as the title sponsor of the Price Cutter Charity Championship’s women’s golf clinic. Michele also served on the PCCC’s board of directors the past two years and was instrumental in helping to raise a record $1 million for 46 local charities this past year.
“She was always very professional and did her best to make sure we have the best we possibly could,” Andrews said.
Michele inspired many. She was a star athlete at Lebanon High School and earned an associate degree from Southwest Missouri State. In 1992, she was runner-up in the Mrs. Missouri Pageant and went on to serve on many boards, including the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks.
Many knew Michele as someone who was more than generous with her time and money.
Her volunteer efforts included the Relay for Life/American Cancer Society, and she was always active her son’s schools. Mitchell, a Drury University golf signee, is a senior at Kickapoo High School, where Michele was serving as booster club president of the Chiefs’ golf team.
Michele also is survived by two brothers, Steve Knight and wife Beth; Jeff Knight and wife Amy, all of Lebanon; father and mother-in-law, John and Peggy Kiser; sister-in-law Holly Muns and husband, Terry, all of Springfield; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and a great nephew.
Michele was preceded in death by her father, Gerald Knight, and sister Kim Knight.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to The Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, 330 N. Jefferson Ave., Ste. B in Springfield (65806).