George "Papa D" Brandenburg III

George Dee Brandenburg III passed away on March 11, 2026, from a heart attack. Born on July 5, 1944, to George Dee Brandenburg II and Simone Ouellette Brandenburg, he lost his father at just 18 months old. He attended Immaculate Conception grade school and graduated from Christian Brothers High School in 1962, remaining a proud and active alumnus throughout his life. He began his college studies at Christian Brothers College and earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Memphis State. Known for his quick wit and love of jokes and pranks, George was a loyal friend who lived without enemies.

He married Connie Gurley on June 3, 1966, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Their daughter Michele was born shortly before he entered the Army and served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne, a chapter of his life of which he remained deeply proud. After returning safely, he and Connie welcomed twins David and Sherry. Trained as an accountant, George also thrived as an entrepreneur, running several small businesses with resourcefulness, hard work, and a habit of burning the midnight oil.

George embraced life with energy and enthusiasm. He loved athletics, particularly tennis, scuba diving, and softball, earning a National Softball Association championship in 2006. After moving to Florida, he and Connie discovered new joys in pickleball and golf, staying active together until his final days. A devoted Memphis Tigers fan, he passed that loyalty on to his children and grandchildren. He cherished time with his grandchildren, supporting their activities, watching classic movies, visiting haunted houses, and searching for Christmas light displays. He also enjoyed playing cards with Connie and friends, always bringing laughter to the table, and loved traveling both near and far, often with his entire family.

He is survived by his wife Connie, his children Michele (Jeff) Maddock, David (Amy), and Sherry (Jim) Ahern, and his beloved grandchildren Andrew, Matthew, Joshua, Nathan (Haley), Garrett, Madison (Jackson) Lyons, Kalleigh, and John David (JD), who all called him Papa D. He was preceded in death by his sister Simone (Calvin) Jones and is survived by his sister Diane Mascari Kuehl.