Beatrice “Bea” Bissing
September 28, 1912 ~ April 20, 2011
Bissing, Beatrice “Bea”, 98, entered eternal life, April 20, 2011. She passed away in Denver, CO where she has been living since 2001. Bea was born September 28, 1912 and grew up on a farm in Bushton, KS. She graduated from Kansas State University and taught school before her marriage to Dr. Al Bissing in 1941. After WWII, when Al returned from overseas, they moved to Wichita. Bea loved to travel and spend time with family and friends, especially her grandsons. She seldom said no to requests and was happy to consider herself a full time wife, mother and volunteer. She was an incredible role model. Beas stewardship included a long list of projects. She received much recognition and some of the highest awards for her years of community service in Girl Scouts, the NeedleWork Guild, St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary, Blessed Sacrament Church, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and other organizations. Bea was preceded by her husband, Al Bissing in 1994, brothers Lawrence and Paul Habiger of Bushton, KS and sister, Madelyn VanBuren, of Portland, OR. Survivors: daughter Patricia and husband Gerald Schnittker of Denver, CO and grandsons, James Schnittker of Baltimore, MD and Kevin Schnittker of Charleston, SC. Visitation 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Wed., April 27 and the Rosary at 7 p.m., both at Downing Lahey Mortuary East. Funeral Mass 11a.m., Thurs., April 28, at Blessed Sacrament Church. Memorials: Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 124 N Roosevelt, Wichita, KS 67208, Georgetown Village Endowment Fund, 1655 Georgetown, Wichita, KS 67218 and Christian Living Community Nursing Care at Clermont Park, 2480 S. Clermont St., Denver, CO 80222.
Visitation 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Wed., April 27 and the Rosary at 7 p.m., both at Downing Lahey Mortuary East.
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Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
Patricia Bissing Schnittker Denver, CO Dear Patricia, It may seem odd that you\’re receiving a message from a fellow who last visited with you mare than six decades ago. I moved to Wichita in 1946, when I was four years old. My parents purchased a residence at 209 South Kessler, just across the street from your parents. We lived on Kessler for only four years, but during that time, I got to know everybody in the street. Al and Bea Bissing were my very best friends. I\’ve got a hundred very fond memories of them. We moved to South Wichita when I was eight years old and I don\’t think I ever quite recovered from the trauma. Mind you, it made it possible for me to attend East High (don\’t think I\’d have liked West…) and that resulted in my having the job I\’ve held down for the past fifty years. I don\’t think I\’ll ever forget seeing Uncle Al (as we called him) drive up his driveway in a brand new silver-gray Packard. Al had taken the train to Detroit and drove the Packard back. Lots more to say, but not now. I\’ve typed a couple hundred pages of my memories, all collected for my grandkids. Half a dozen pages are about my living on Kessler. I\’ll send a copy to you…US Post or Email, as you prefer. Sorry to lose Bea, I remember her as a superb lady. Ironic that Al and Bea moved from Kessler to just north of St. James church (not too far from Blessed Sacrament, of course…) and that\’s only a couple of blocks from where we live today. 98 years old? Wow, what a blessing to all of us. Best regards, Gary L. Ray / 209 Circle Drive / Wichita, KS 67218, just down from Blessed Sacrament…
Bea was an awesome lady and good friend to my mother, Mary Smith. Both are in heaven now where they can continue to be friends. My sympathies to Bea’s family.