Nicholas Bissen, Sr., son of Mary Gaul Bissen and John Bissen, was born April 8, 1885 on a farm near Earling, Ia, and he has lived his entire life in the community, Nov. 10, 1908 he married Clara Book at Westphalia, Ia. To this union seventeen children were born. Mr. and Mrs. Bissen celebrated their 50th anniversary in the fall of 1958. After their marriage they farm Bissen became a resident of the St Joseph's Church Earling, Iowa. He was also a member of the Holy Name Society of this church and of the Knights of Columbus, Earling Council No. 1741. Mr. Bissen died at the Myrtue Memorial hospital at Harlan, Feb, 12, 1972 at the age 84 years, 10 months and 7 days.

In addition to his wife, Clara, he was preceded in death by five infants, who died at birth; two brothers, Jacob and Joseph Bissen; two sisters, Mrs. Kate Esser and Mrs. Lena Jacoby; two grandchildren - Kenneth Stracke and Mary Kay Bissen; and one great granddaughter - Theresa Sandbothe.

Surviving are his twelve children. Hilda (Mrs. Joe Bauman) of Buck Grove, Mary (Mrs. Anton Bruck) of Earling, Adelie (Mrs Alfons Stracke) of Perry, Nicholas J. Bissen, Jr. of Earling, Cyrilla (Mrs Albert Pauley) of Earling, Sylvan Bissen fo Earling. Evelyn (Mrs Ural Smith) of Panama, Sister Mary Helen of GlenView, Ill., Walter Bissen of Earling, Joseph Bissen of Earling, Mrs. Mildred Smith of Rosenberg, Texas, and Theresa (Mrs. Jake Behrnedt) of Buck Grove; 68 grandchildren and 80 great grandchildren; three brothers, The Rt. Rev. Msgr, P. A. Bissen of Earling, John Bissen of Earling, and Paul Bissen of Dunlap and one sister, Barbara (Mrs. Anton Frank) of Earling.

A Con-celebrated Mass of the resurrection was celebrated by the Rt. Rev. Msgr. P A. Bissen Tuesday, Feb. 15, 1972 in St. Joseph's Church at Earling, Con-celebratant was Rev. Hilary Gaul of West Des Moines, Present in the sanctuary were Msgr N. A. Gaul of Earling; Msgr M. B Schiltz of Panama; Rev. J. J. Hyland of Dow City; Rev. Edward Kelley, Rev Arthur McCann of Westphalia; Rev. Fred Reischl of Panama; Rev. Adam Reisz of Dunlap; Rev. Anthony Palmer of Harlan and Rev. Daniel O'Connell of Defiance. Acoyltes were Duane Bruck; Rick Pauley, Ken Behrendt, Randy and Danny Smith, all grandsons. Pallbearers were Pvt Joe Behrendt, Eugene Bissen, Leroy Pauley, Ted Bissen, Larry Joe Bissen, Ralph Bruck, Gaylen Smith and Phil Trierweiler, all grandsons. Burial was in St Joseph's cemetery.