Obituary: Myron Kirsch

Myron Kirsch, 86, a longtime resident of Quincy, Ill., died peacefully surrounded by loved ones July 11, 2026, in Atlanta, Ga.

He was born July 22, 1939, in St. Louis, Mo., the youngest son of David and Ethel Kirsch. He was active in Boy Scouts, attending the 1953 Jamboree in California and earning his Eagle Scout award. He graduated from University City High School in 1957 and served in the U.S. Army Reserves, achieving the rank of staff sergeant.

Myron met the love of his life, Dianne Chanen, on a blind date at Union Station in St. Louis, They were married at Temple B’nai Sholom in Quincy on Aug. 28, 1960, and the couple shared 58 happy years of marriage. After Dianne’s death in 2018, not a day passed when Myron did not talk or think about Dianne.

Myron was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend to so many. He was a respected Quincy businessman for six decades, operating the family businesses of Chanen’s Auto Supply and IMI Corp., and in his later years working in real estate. Myron was also a leader of the small Quincy Jewish community, serving as president and board member of Temple B’nai Sholom for many years, and a talented musician whose musical ear enabled him to entertain countless community groups and friends with his piano and accordion skills, despite not being able to read a note of music.

Anyone who met Myron knew that his greatest joy and pleasure was raising his and Dianne’s three sons in Quincy — he loved nothing more than telling you about his children (even if you didn’t ask). He was an active and loving presence in his boys’ childhood, hitting fly balls to the neighborhood kids in Madison Park, serving as cubmaster of Madison School Pack 49, developing new aerodynamic techniques for Pinewood Derby cars, and supporting each of his sons as they joined him as Eagle Scouts and later pursued their own careers.

Myron and Dianne moved to Atlanta in 2017 to be near family. They cherished spending time with their children and grandchildren and creating new memories together at their new home at Hammond Glen. After Dianne’s death in 2018, Myron continued to build new friendships in Atlanta, that he valued dearly. He loved his weekend outings with his kids and was thrilled to learn he became a great-grandfather a couple of months before his death.

Myron was a man of great integrity, and he will be missed by all who were fortunate to have known him.

Survivors include children, Jeffrey Kirsch of Conway, Ark., Michael Kirsch (Ilana) of South Bend, Ind., and Greg Kirsch (Lanie) of Atlanta, Ga.; seven grandchildren, Amanda Knock (Phil), Aaron Kirsch (Erica), Max Kirsch, Arielle Kirsch, Asher Kirsch, Eli Kirsch, and Eden Kirsch; and great-grandson, Casper Knock.

Myron was preceded in death by his wife, Dianne; his parents, David and Ethel Kirsch, and parents-in-law, Max and Zelda Chanen, all four of whom made a lasting impact on him; his brothers, Wolff Kirsch and Morton Kirsch; his brother-in-law, Fred Chanen; and his sisters-in-law, Carole Chanen and Marie-Claire Kirsch.

Funeral was in Quincy, Illinois on Friday, July 17. Donations may be made to the Mississippi Valley Council of Boy Scouts of America or the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999