Obituary: Capt. John M. Kaiser Sr.
Capt. John M. Kaiser Sr., 86, Remembered for a Life of Service and Family
Winthrop, Maine – Capt. John M. Kaiser Sr., known to friends and family as “Jack,” died peacefully in Winthrop on October 5, 2026, at the age of 86. The former Navy pilot and lifelong community volunteer was born on July 21, 1940, in Ramsey, New Jersey, and spent most of his adult life serving his country and his neighbors.
Jack’s naval career spanned more than two decades, during which he flew missions as a pilot and rose to the rank of captain. His assignments took him and his family to ports and bases around the globe, from the Pacific islands to European outposts. When he retired in 1989, the Kaiser family settled permanently in Maine, where Jack continued to work and remain an active member of the local community.
A devoted husband, Jack was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Caro Jane Kaiser, who passed away just three weeks earlier. He also lost his parents, George and Edith Kaiser, years earlier. Jack is survived by a large and loving family: his son, John M. Kaiser Jr., and daughter‑in‑law Rhonda; daughter Jane C. Grant and her husband Steve; grandchildren Kayla Kaiser (Keenan) and Lauren Souza (Kameron); great‑grandchildren Laina and Kaleb; and his brother, Walter Kaiser.
The family will hold a memorial service on Monday, October 19, at 2:00 p.m. at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 143 Blue Star Ave. (off Civic Center Drive) in Augusta. Arrangements and guidance will be provided by Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop. In lieu of flowers, family members and friends are encouraged to make donations in Jack’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Jack is remembered for the steady hand he held over a cockpit, the dedication he showed to his fellow sailors, and the love he shared with his wife and children. His life story is one of adventure, service, and the quiet commitment that defines a life well lived. The community of Winthrop and the wider Maine region will miss a devoted citizen, a proud veteran, and a loving family patriarch.
