Bissen, Helen M. (1927 - 2015)

BISSEN, GROSS, BLUM, GRAEVE, KOCHANOWICZ, COENEN, KLEIN, BABEL

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 9/11/2015 at 14:08:54

Name of deceased: Helen Margaret Bissen (nee Gross)

Aged: 88 yrs, 4 mo, 10 days

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: April 24, 1927, rural Earling, IA

Died: Sep. 3, 2015, Harlan, IA

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial; Sep. 8, 2015; St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA

Survived by: Husband of 68 years, Marvin Bissen; children, Linda (spouse, Keith) Graeve of Elkhorn, NE, Duane (spouse, Sheryl) Bissen of Grinnell, IA, Pastor Connie Bissen of Omaha, NE, Dennis (spouse, Bonnie) Bissen of Kimballton, IA, Nancy (spouse, Leo) Kochanowicz of Omaha, NE, and Roger (spouse, DeaAnn) Bissen of Harlan, IA; 17 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy Coenen of Woodbine, IA and Marie (spouse, Charlie) Klein of Earling, IA; brothers, Eugene Gross of Battle Creek, IA, Jerry (spouse, Sharon) Gross of Earling, IA, and Vern (spouse, Ginger) Gross of Palmdale, CA; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Joseph and Josephine (nee Blum) Gross; sister, Leona Babel; brothers, Leo, Alfons, and Bob Gross

Education: attended country school and graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Neola, IA.

Religious affiliation: baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Earling, IA; member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas since 1947; served as a communion minister for 32 years at church, taking communion to members who were unable to attend church; member of the church choir and taught C.C.D. classes in Defiance and at St. Michael’s for 10 years.

Military service: n/a

Marriage: Marvin Bissen; Sep. 30, 1947; Earling, IA

Employment: homemaker; assisted spouse with farm duties and raising their children; later, she was employed by Salem Lutheran Nursing Home in Elk Horn, IA, and later did home health care. She also sold Avon products.

Hobbies/Interests: reading, music, bird watching, quilting, baking

Sources: kjan.com; pauleyjones.com