Grosse Pointe News

Sean Cotton, Owner • Anne Gryzenia, Publisher • Jody McVeigh, Editor In Chief • Meg Leonard, Senior Editor

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Joseph Peter Kaiser IIIFree Access


Former Grosse Pointe Farms resident Joseph Peter Kaiser III, 97, of Naples, Fla., passed away peacefully Tuesday, June 5, 2018.

He is survived by his loving wife, Marguerite; children, Jacqueline (John Sauselen), Joseph IV (Maureen) and Robert; 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Born Aug. 8, 1920, in Detroit, to Joseph II and Katherine Kaiser, Joseph  was an avid rower and won the national championship for the Detroit Boat Club in 1940. He attended the University of Michigan and was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. He served in World War II from 1942 to 1946 as a captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps, spending two-and-a-half years in the South Pacific.

In 1952, Joseph founded Gallagher-Kaiser Corp.; the company recently celebrated its 66th anniversary. After retiring, Joseph and Marguerite moved to Naples, where they enjoyed golfing and visits from their children and grandchildren.

Joe Sr., as he was affectionately known, was an active member of the Detroit Rotary Club, Detroit Athletic Club, Country Club of Detroit, Grosse Pointe Yacht Club and The Old Club before retiring to Naples. In Naples, he was a member of the Pelican Bay Club and Royal Poinciana Golf Club.

He enjoyed spending time with his wife and family; he and Marguerite recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary.

Joseph was a beloved, well-respected man who will be greatly missed by his family and those whose lives he touched.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Grosse Pointe.