Catherine Frances Bissen, 97, died on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, at the Hansen House in Council Bluffs. She was born on April 25, 1929, in Gray, to Joseph and Katharina (Mueller) Brandt. She grew up in Manning and attended Aspinwall Independent School. Her early years were filled with hard work and family life, including milking cows and feeding calves, work that helped shape the strong, patient, and hardworking woman she would become. On April 28, 1953, Catherine married Walter Bissen in a special double wedding ceremony alongside her sister Sophia who married Walter’s cousin Marcus Esser. Together they built a life centered around family and the simple pleasures that brought her joy. They lived and farmed in the Earling area. Catherine and Walter were blessed with ten children. Summers often included the family tradition of butchering chickens, a job that was no doubt plenty of work, but one that became part of many cherished family memories. Over the years she helped waitress, worked in a bakery, drug store, furniture store and helped cook and do laundry at Little Flower Haven. Catherine was also a familiar face at baseball games where she ran the concession stand. She took great pride in keeping the uniforms looking their best, working hard to keep them nice and white.
Catherine was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church. She had many talents and hobbies, but she loved being in the kitchen. She enjoyed cooking meals, canning produce from her garden, and making homemade goodies, especially freshly made bread. Catherine was a patient woman and very talented with a needle and thread, spending many hours crocheting, quilting, and sewing. Catherine enjoyed playing games, with Scrabble being a particular favorite. She was known for her quick wit, ornery nature, and wonderful sense of humor.
Catherine was preceded in death by her parents and husband; one infant daughter, Mary; son, Eugene Bissen; infant grandson, Anthony; siblings, Gertrude Gehling, Margaret Tranter, Engelbert Brandt, Sophia Esser, Rosalia Brandt, Joseph Brandt, and Chris Brandt. She is survived by her children, Gary (Jane) Bissen of Earling, Geralyn “Geri” (Mike) Anderson of Dunlap, Myron Bissen, Twyla (Delbert) Matheny and Helen (Terry) Wolters all of Council Bluffs, Richard (Elisa) Bissen of Keller, Texas, Kevin Bissen of Harlan, and Karen Bissen of Woodbine; 12 grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; 11 great-grand-children; 11 step-great-grand-children; one great-great-grandchild; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Brandt of Aspinwall; and many other relatives and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Earling with Father Andrew Windschitl presiding over the service. The pallbearers were Catherine’s grandchildren. Her final resting place is at the St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
Services were entrusted to Fouts Funeral Home. www.foutsfuneralhome.com
