EARLING - Joseph Peter Bissen, son of Nickolas and Clara Bissen, was born May 19, 1924 on a farm near Earling in Shelby County, Iowa. he died at Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, October 19, 1972 at the age of 48 years and 5 months.

He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph's church in Earling and he attended St. Joseph's School.

On Sept 25, 1947 he married Pauline Feser in St. Peter's church at Defiance. They celebrated their silver wedding anniversary in September of this year. To this union three children were born.

After their marriage the Bissens moved to a farm north of Earling, and this has been their home since that time. He was preceded in death by his mother, in August of 1961, and by his father in February of this year.

Mr Bissen is survived by his wife Pauline, two sons, Larry and Darrell both at home; one daughter Kathleen (Mrs Alan Wilwerding) of Defiance; three brothers and eight sisters also survive; Nickolas Jr., Sylvan and Walter all of Earling; Hilda ( Mrs Joe Baumen) of Buck Grove, Ia; Mary (Mrs Anton Bruck) of Earling; Adella, (Mrs Alfons Stracke) of Perry, Ia.; Cyrilla (Mrs Albert Pauley) of Earling; Evelyn (Mrs Ural Smith) of Panama, Sister Mary Helen, of Glenview, Ill., Mrs Mildred Smith of Rosenburg, Texas; and Theresa (Mrs Jake Behrendt) of rural Defiance.

Also surviving are two aunts, three uncles, many nieces, nephews and other relatives and a great many friends.

A con-celebrated mass of the Resurrection was calibrated in St. Joseph's Church in Earling at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, 1972. The Very Rev. Michael B. Schwarte was main celebrants with the Rt. Rev. Msgr Peter A. Bissen and the Rev. Frederick Reischl of Panama, co-celebrants. The Rev. Daniel O'Connell of Defiance was also present.

Burial was in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Earling, with Urban Katzer, James Tryon, Clarence Tryon, Theodore Bissen, Vernon Scheuring and Austin Scheuring serving as casket-bearers.