Harry Fritz Paul Kennin

Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford Harry Fritz Paul Kennin, aged 87, passed away peacefully on September 6, 2025, in Oxford, Mississippi. He was a master craftsman, a self-made businessman, and a man of deeply complex layers who lived a life marked by historic transitions. Early Life and Historic Beginnings Harry was born on Friday, October 15, 1937, in Berlin, Germany, to Fritz Kennin and Frieda Fischer Kennin. He entered the world during a momentous era, sharing his birth date with the publication of Hemingway’s To Have and Have Not and the release of Shirley Temple's Heidi. Raised at Lange Straße 35 alongside his three older sisters, Harry’s childhood was profoundly shaped by the turbulence of World War II and the subsequent division of his hometown. He lost his father early in the conflict, in August 1941. Growing up in post-war Berlin, Harry trained diligently at Birkle & Thomer, earning his Journeyman’s Certification in The Painting Craft Trade in 1957. He often recalled fond, youthful memories of cycling through the split city, occasionally crossing into East Berlin for a cheaper beer before the borders tightened. A New Chapter in America Seeking new opportunities, Harry obtained his passport and immigrated to the United States, arriving in New York City on September 12, 1958. Sponsored by his sister Christa, he settled in Memphis, Tennessee. He quickly mastered English and built a life, marrying Linda Gail Fones in 1959. Together, they raised five children, moving to their long-term family home on Crestview Drive in 1965. Harry proudly achieved his United States Citizenship on May 2, 1969. That same era marked the launch of the Harry F. Kennin Painting & Wallpapering Company. As a business owner, Harry was revered for his impeccable attention to detail, establishing his company as an elite, high-quality service contractor in the greater Memphis area. Life, Passions, and Complexity Outside of work, Harry was a handsome, charming, and charismatic man who loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and playing poker with friends. He took great pride in providing a beautiful home for his family. He remained deeply connected to his German roots; following the historic fall of the Berlin Wall, Harry and Linda flew to Berlin in December 1989 to help dismantle the barrier, bringing back historic pieces of the wall for loved ones. Harry was a complicated soul who fought internal battles that often made long-term relationships difficult. Over the years, he experienced periods of emotional and physical estrangement from those who loved him most. While these times brought hardship to family events, those closest to him chose to remember and honor "Harry"—the generous, fun-loving, life-of-the-party man they knew and loved, while respecting his eventual wishes for privacy. In his later years, following a divorce and the passing of his second wife, Seta York, Harry lived in Beach Bluff, Tennessee, and briefly in West Newfield, Maine, before finding his final home in Oxford, Mississippi, in 2021. Family and Legacy Harry is survived by his sister, Brigitta Dantzer: his son Karl Kennin, his twin daughters Karen Wright and Kelley Cook; his grandchildren, Tyler Franks, Taylor Elliott, Nicholas Franks, Regan Cook, Autum Ray, Lydian Coombs, Elio Kennin, Kyla Kennin, Turner Kennin; and 5 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Fritz Kennin; his mother, Frieda; his second wife, Seta York; his sisters, Elli Wayne and Christa Wilson; his children, Heidi Ray and Paul Kennin; and his granddaughter, Erin Godsey. Services In accordance with his explicit final wishes, Harry was laid to rest in a private ceremony. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford, Mississippi, for their compassionate and outstanding care. We pray that Harry has finally found the enduring peace, comfort, and happiness that eluded him in life as he rejoices in eternity. The staff at Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford is honored to serve the family during this challenging season of life. Condolences may be expressed online on his Tribute wall at www.colemanfuneralhomeox.com

Harry Fritz Paul Kennin

October 15, 1937 - September 6, 2025

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