Harry Bissell

Harry Elmer Bissell, age 84, of Greenville, passed away Friday, May 10, 2013 at Twin Oaks-Gowen. The son of Pearl Belle (Cogswell) and Clarence A. Bissell, Sr., he was born on December 15, 1928 in Greenville -- a town he loved and called home for most of his life. A veteran of World War II, Harry served with the U.S. Army and was a long-time member of the Cleveland-Wolverton Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 3794 in Greenville. On June 20, 1950, in Belding, he married Janice L. Newman and together they raised two daughters while Harry worked at the former Gibson Refrigerator Company, where he was a member of U.A.W. Local 137. They had been members of the Greenville New Testament Church. Harry was a proud Yellow Jacket fan and enjoyed watching and cheering Greenville's young athletes. Over the years Harry enjoyed coaching little league baseball, competitive horseshoe pitching, hunting, raising champion hunting dogs, and was a member of the Milbrook Coon Hunters Association. In his later years, Harry found peace walking and meditating along our city's Fred Meijer Flat River Trail system, as well as fellowship with his friend's from the nightly coffee club at McDonald's. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Janice L. Bissell on August 24, 1994; two brothers, Fay Bissell and Clarence A. "Booner" Bissell, Jr.; and a sister, Josephine Kate Bissell-Henry. Surviving are two daughters, Deborah & George Tanner of Brighton, and Sonja & William Wheaton of Greenville; a brother, Eugene & Char Bissell of Greenville; a sister-in-law, Gerri Bissell of Greenville; six grandchildren, Janice & Ed Abshagen, Cara & Brian Bruining, Morgan & Chris Van Dyken, Donovan Wheaton, Tabitha Wheaton, and Joshua Wheaton; five great-grandchildren, Gabrielle Bruining, Jaclyn Bruining, Page Abshagen, Augustine Abshagen, and Josephine Van Dyken; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Visitation with the family is Wednesday from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Jesus Non-Denominational Church, 9206 W. Peck Road, Greenville, where memorial services will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Pastor Tommy Turner, Jr. will officiate and a time of food and fellowship will follow the ceremony. Instead of flowers, Harry would have appreciated contributions in his memory to the Greenville High School Athletic Department. Envelopes will be available at the church. Arrangements were entrusted to Christiansen Cremation & Funeral Care, Greenville. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Harry Bissell, please visit our flower store.