Eddie Kaffenberger

Edward (Eddie) Kaffenberger died September 13, 2021 in Crossett, Ark.  He was almost 86.  Eddie was born in New Orleans.  He met Cora Sturgis killing snakes in a canal and they were married for 66 years.  They had a family of 5 kids, Bruce, June, Judy, Angela, and Johnny.

Eddie was a serial entrepreneur with no formal education past middle school.  His first jobs were in the movie industry working for Paramount and United Artist which brought him to Memphis. Soon after, he bought his first business, the Gulf Oil station in Tunica, Mississippi.  He soon bought the Palace Theatre where his kids saw every movie in the 60’s and maybe an occasional movie themed contest or wrestling match with professional wrestlers.  After he closed the theater, he and Cora ran the Mug n Cone while he also sold movies for United Artist.  Finding a drive-in movie theater for sale, he moved the family to Crossett, running Wren Movies for many years, where his kids saw every movie during the 70’s.  By now they were old enough to work and most importantly, how to count change.  After drive-in’s ran their course, he started Software Solutions, a computer store with several locations at the peak.  The drive-in property was put to good use with a video store and the world famous North Crossett Snow Cone Shop.  They were finally retired in 2021.

Eddie loved to hunt and fish and talk.  He taught his kids how to love seafood and how to properly pick a crab.  Many son in-laws were chastised.  He was very handy and tried to fix or build everything but was not known for always finishing.  And not to be forgotten is when he beat the IRS and became a case study.

Eddie is preceded in death by his son, Johnny; his parents and several siblings.  He is survived by his wife, Cora; children, Bruce, June, Judy and Angela and sisters Helen, Karen and Dreida Mae.  He was grandfather to Colin, Kevin and Tyler and great grandfather to Pascal.  All the grandkids were taught to call him Uncle Eddie since he always claimed to be too young to be a grandfather.  There is no more pain nor that nasty dementia that robbed him of being able to enjoy life, just hunting and fishing trips with Johnny at that big drive-in in the sky!

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