Clarence Bissell

Mr. Clarence A. Booner Bissell, Jr., age 79, of Greenville, passed away Monday, December 20, 2010 at the Fred & Lena Meijer Heart Center at Spectrum Health-Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. The son of Pearl Belle (Cogswell) and Clarence A. Bissell, Sr., he was born on March 25, 1931 in Greenville. On June 25, 1949, in Greenville, he married Geraldine Gerri Powers. In 1990, he retired after 38 years of service to the former Gibson Refrigerator Company, where he served as a union representative with UAW Local 137 for many of those years. Outside of work if Booner wasnt building something in his pole barn, he was hunting or fishing -- or telling stories about hunting and fishing. He led a family endeavor to build his own home on 40 acres just outside of Greenville literally building the house out of his wallet without taking on a mortgage. He was happy to spend many hours in his pole barn with his sons, grandsons, and friends -- pointing out their mistakes and guiding them to victory. He was especially proud of each and everyone of his grandkids and couldnt be more pleased to have lived to see them land on their feet. A beloved member of Butternut Bible Church, Booner received Christ later in life. He was was baptized, along with his wife, in 2008. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Linda Lee Allen-Doty; a grandson, Johnnie Paul Allen, Sr.; a daughter-in-law, Sandy Bissell; a brother, Fay Bissell; siblings-in-law, Carrie Sage, Marvin Powers, Clyde Henry, Janice Bissell, and Leona Bissell; and his best friend, Roger Marks. Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Gerri Bissell of Greenville; their children, Randal Bissell of Greenville, Judy Bissell of Grand Rapids, and Daniel & Brenda Bissell of Greenville; a son-in-law, David Allen of Stanton; his grandchildren, Lonnie Allen of Mt. Pleasant, David & Tara Allen of Belding, Eugene Bissell of Greenville, Allen & Jessy Bissell of Grand Rapids, Robert & Elana Bissell of Atlanta, Georgia, Jacob Ross of Greenville, Kevin Bissell of Greenville, and Michelle Peak of Kalamazoo; six great grandchildren; a sister, Josephine Henry of Greenville; two brothers, Harry Bissell and Eugene & Char Bissell, all of Greenville; siblings-in-law, Emerald & Maude Powers, Alice Powers, and Virgil Vance Powers, all of Greenville; a special friend, Bud Mumby of Greenville; and many nieces and nephews. The family invites relatives and friends to celebrate Booner's life beginning at 1:00 p.m. , next Saturday, January 8, 2011 at the Butternut Bible Church, 7369 S. Crystal Road, Butternut. Honoring his wishes, cremation has taken place and no formal services will be held. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Clarence Bissell, please visit our flower store.