John "Jack" Kiser

1944 - 2023

John "Jack" Kiser

May 19, 1944 - February 9, 2023

John "Jack" Wesley Kiser Jr. of Hendersonville, passed away on Thursday, February 9, 2023, after an extended battle with dementia. He was 78.

Jack was born on May 19, 1944, to John Sr. and Helen Kiser in Knoxville, Tenn.

Jack graduated from West High School in Knoxville in 1962 and attended the University of Tennessee.

Jack was predeceased by his parents, John and Helen Webb Kiser; and his brother, Shapard Kiser.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Dr. Denise Bounous; his sisters, Jeanette Cordell, and Kathy Dazevedo; his brother, Mike Kiser; and a daughter, Erin Kiser.

Jack's love and his passion were animals, both domestic and exotic. His life and home were always full of some type - dogs, cats, racoons, parrots, bobcats, horses, snakes. He was curator of mammals at Oklahoma City Zoo and worked at several others, including Phoenix (where he met his wife), Baton Rouge and Knoxville zoos. Jack was responsible for breeding of the endangered Arabian Oryx at the Phoenix Zoo, enabling reintroduction to their native Saudi Arabia. He and his wife lived in many states across the country before retiring in Hendersonville. Jack was an avid reader with a large library, a lover of rock music, an accomplished cook and the go-to person for questions about wine. He loved showing off his wine cellar to guests.

Jack will be honored and remembered in a celebration of life to be announced at a later time.

Please consider a donation in his memory to either Blue Ridge Humane Society, 100-B Chadwick Square Court, Hendersonville, NC 28739 or to an Alzheimer's research foundation of your choice.

Jackson Funeral Service

1101 Greenville Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28792