Glenn David Kiersky

Glenn David Kiersky, a beloved husband, a devoted father, an adored grandfather, a great poker player, and outdoorsman extraordinaire, died June 23 following a short illness at Baptist Hospital, where he was surrounded by his family. He was 75.

Glenn was born in Memphis the second of three sons, but he didn't let the middle-child syndrome get in his way. He always let his brothers know when he was right, which was always. As a teenager, Glenn spent his summers at Camp Nebagamon for Boys in Wisconsin, an experience that gave him a lifetime of fond memories. He graduated from East High School in 1967, and in 1971 graduated from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, where he met Yvonne, the love of his life and his wife of 53 years.

Glenn and Yvonne settled in Memphis, and with his father he managed his family's business, the South Memphis Stockyards until its closure in the late 1980s. He went full throttle into his second career as a financial consultant with Merrill Lynch and Smith Barney. Glenn was an avid outdoorsman who loved duck hunting and fishing and was a founding member of Blackfish Farms Hunt Club in Arkansas.

Glenn considered himself just a regular guy, but his life was truly extraordinary. He was a top-rated tournament poker player and a lifelong member of Ridgeway Country Club where he was a past president. He loved Tiger basketball, enjoyed his dogs, appreciated fine art, relished a good steak, loved to wear mud-soaked boots, laughed at bad jokes, prided himself in the endless number of stories he could tell, enjoyed his farm, loved to fish with his granddaughter, Amelia, trap shoot with his granddaughter, Shea, watch his grandson, Evan, play baseball, listen to his granddaughter Elise play the flute. Most of all, he loved to hunt with his son.

Yet Glenn's passion in life was his family. He leaves his wife, Yvonne, his son, Elliot (Tricia) Kiersky of Memphis; his daughter, Simone Coyle (Will) of Vienna, Va.; and his brother, John (Jan) Kiersky of Memphis. He was the doting grandfather of Shea and Amelia Kiersky, and Evan and Elise Coyle. Glenn was an adored uncle, brother-in-law, and friend to many, particularly his golfing foursome of 50 years whom he considered his family of choice. Glenn was preceded in death by his parents, Doris and J. Hubert Kiersky, his brother, James H. Kiersky, and his nephew Will Kiersky. Glenn also leaves behind numerous friends who will remember his larger-than-life personality and his kind and generous heart.

Services for Glenn, who was a lifelong member of Temple Israel, will be held at 3 p.m., Tuesday, June 25, in the Levy-Cooper Chapel at Temple Israel Cemetery, 1708 Hernando Road.

The family asks that you honor Glenn's life with a donation to Camperships for Nebagamon, www.cncharities.org, or to the charity of the donor's choice.