George "Papa D" Brandenburg, III's Obituary
George Dee Brandenburg III passed away on March 11, 2026 from a heart attack. He was born on July 5, 1944 to George Dee Brandenburg II and Simone Ouellette Brandenburg, with his father passing away when he was only 18 months old. He attended Catholic schools at Immaculate Conception grade school and Christian Brothers High School (‘62), where he became a proud and active alumnus. He began his college schooling at Christian Brothers College and completed his undergraduate and masters at Memphis State. George was known for his sense of humor, always quick to make a joke or pull a prank, while at the same time being a loyal friend and a man with no enemies.
George married Connie Gurley on June 3, 1966 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Their first daughter, Michele, was born shortly before he joined the army to serve in Vietnam. He was extremely proud of his service to his country, often sporting his Vietnam Vet 101st Airborne baseball cap. Twins, David and Sherry, were born after his safe return.
Although trained as an accountant, George was also an entrepreneur with several small businesses. He was resourceful and hardworking and enjoyed burning the midnight oil.
George was never one to be idle. Unless the activity included cold weather or spicy food, he was always up for an adventure! He loved athletics, especially tennis, scuba, and softball (National Softball Association Champion ‘06). After moving to Florida, he and Connie began playing pickleball and golfing together, remaining active until his last day. Additionally, he was an avid supporter of the Memphis Tigers, a loyalty he passed on to his kids and grandkids. He loved his time with grandkids including supporting their many activities, watching old movies, going through haunted houses, and hunting for Christmas light displays. George also enjoyed playing cards with Connie and their friends, always bringing laughter to the game. He enjoyed traveling at home and abroad, often with his entire family.
He is survived by his wife Connie, his children Michele (Jeff) Maddock, David (Amy), and Sherry (Jim) Ahern. He has many beloved grandchildren: Andrew, Matthew, Joshua, Nathan (Haley) - who are expecting a great grandson he was very excited to meet -, Garrett, Madison (Jackson) Lyons, Kalleigh, and John David [JD], who all proudly called him Papa D. His sister, Simone (Calvin) Jones, preceded him in death, and he is survived by his sister, Diane Mascari Kuehl (George - deceased).
Visitation will be held at 10:00 am on March 28 at Incarnation Catholic Church, Collierville, TN. A Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow at 11:30am. A private family burial will be held on Sunday, March 29. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate to either Tunnel to Towers Foundation or Christian Brothers High School, which were causes close to George’s heart.
Tunnels to Towers Foundation - https://dogood.t2t.org/IMOGeorgeBrandenburg
Christian Brothers High School -
https://www.cbhs.org/support
Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38119 (901) 767-8930. “Where Memphis comes to remember, since 1924.
What’s your fondest memory of George?
What’s a lesson you learned from George?
Share a story where George's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with George you’ll never forget.
How did George make you smile?