Harry Edwin Behnamann was born in Sigourney, Iowa, on March 17, 1892. His parents were Louis Diedrich Behnamann (born 2 August 1871) and Bertha Elizabeth Gann (born 28 October 1871 in Germany). He had one brother Alfred Leo who never married but worked for the railroad.

Harry's father Louis was labeled a laborer (plowshare) in the 1900 census, and worked in the Rock Island Arsenal in 1910.

Harry moved from Rock Island, Illinois, to El Paso, Texas, to coach at El Paso High School, in 1917. He then enlisted in the Army in 1918, where he fought in World War I serving in France.

Harry met his wife Grace Marie Reicherter (who was teaching women's physical education) while a coach at University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska.

After his marriage to Grace Reicherter in 1921, they moved to Rock Island, Illinois. Harry was a coach at Rock Island High School and, later, an insurance salesman.

Harry's first child Dorothy Marie was born in 1923 and his second child Evelyn Jeane was born in 1929.

During the years of the Depression, Harry's father Louis Behnamann and brother Albert Behnamann lived with his wife Grace and two daughters in Rock Island, Illinois.

Harry was a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Rock Island, Illinois.

Harry left behind daughters Dorothy Marie (Behnamann) Youngberg, son-in-law Robert Youngberg, daughter Evelyn Jeane (Behnamann) Wood, son-in-law Rodger Benton Wood, and 8 grandsons and 2 granddaughters: Mark Youngberg, Gary Youngberg, Kent Youngberg, Todd Youngberg, Brad Youngberg, Drew Youngberg, Randall Wood, Kenneth Wood, Christine (Wood) Woods, and Jennifer Wood. He also has 10 great-grandchildren.