1928
Wally
2023
Frederic Wallace Bissinger
August 5, 1928 — August 5, 2023
Frederic Wallace (Wally) Bissinger died August 5th 2023 at the age of 95. Born August 5th 1928, he chose a different path than joining in the family flower business in Lansing Michigan. The Korean War interrupted his education a bit, but he returned to graduate from Michigan State College with a business degree (Later this became Michigan State University). He worked at General Motors for over 30 years, retiring in 1985, when he moved to Colorado, where his wife, Carol, had been raised.
Happily Married for 50 years, his wife, Carol Buttolph Bissinger, passed away in 2004. They had met when she was a student at MSU majoring in music. She was an accomplished pianist and violinist.
Frederic is survived by his son Mark Bissinger (Married to Helena "Mazie"); his son Noel Bissinger (Married to Laurie), granddaughter Amy Turner (Married to Grant), great granddaughter Nora Turner, granddaughter Kim Bissinger, grandson Eric Bissinger (Married to Alexis); his son Dean Bissinger (Married to Wendy), step grandson Jim Marshall (Married to Vicci), step great grandson Jermaine McCarter, step great granddaughter Jaedyn Marshall, step great grandson Mathew Marshall, grandson Josh Bissinger, and grandson Jacob Bissinger.
Wally rarely mentioned his service in the Army. He carried a bullet in his pocket with whatever keys and spare change he had at the time. During the Korean War it had been fired at him, but missed, landing in the dirt of the foxhole he was in. He dug it out and always kept it as a lucky charm. It was only later in life that he was willing to talk about his time in Korea and it was probably around 2010 when a roll of undeveloped film was found, containing pictures he had taken during the war.
After retiring, Wally became active in Kiwanis (Especially a Golden K chapter that he helped establish). He worked to establish and distribute college scholarships through several fundraising projects annually. He was an avid golfer, always had a jigsaw puzzle in the works, and had taken up needlepoint as a hobby. He had done several photorealistic pictures of pets and some of his grandchildren. He was a huge fan of Michigan State University sports - especially football - and a supporter of the Alumni Association, Wharton Center for the performing arts, and the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity (which he had been a member of when he was a student). He was a fan and supporter of the Grand Junction Symphony, and when she passed away, Carol Bissinger's violin was donated to the local symphony.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Frederic Wallace Bissinger, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Honors Ceremony for Frederic Wallace Bissinger
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
10:00 - 11:00 am (Mountain time)
Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado
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