ATLANTA -- A memorial service is planned Thursday for an Atlanta man who was killed Monday in a terror attack in Kabul, Afghanistan.

David Thor Hesla was killed when gunmen attacked a hotel in Kabul. Family members said he had been there since October.

Government officials said the gunmen concentrated their attack on the hotel’s gym where contract workers relax at night.

Hesla, 45, was working in Kabul on a federal contract.

Family members and friends said Hesla graduated from Emory University and spent years working as a political consultant all over the world. They said Hesla was a devoted son, brother and uncle.

"He was very passionate about everything. He was very generous. He was very spirited, very kind," said friend Stefan Tigges. "he was larger than life in every way in terms of his sense of humor, his intellect, his capacity to love, all these things."

A memorial service is planned for Thursday afternoon at St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church in Toco Hills.