Obituary of William James Michael Bissenas

William James Michael Bissenas William was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 25, 1924 to James and Opal Bissenas. He passed away on April 8, 2009, surrounded by his family, and joined his wife Yvonne, who recently passed. Bill grew up in Iowa and California. After graduating high school, he joined the US Army and was deployed to the Pacific during WWII. He was stationed at Fort Mead, Maryland when he met his wife at a USOEdance in Washington, D.C.. They married on March 1, 1949. They traveled with the Army to various posts and he fought in the Korean War. He retired from the Army at Fort Lewis, and worked for the US Post Office, also retiring from there. Bill was a lifelong member of the Greek Orthodox Church, the Tacoma Poggie Club, and was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing and hunting. He shared these passions with his children and grandchildren, taking them on many outdoor trips around the Northwest. We will miss his stories and the jokes that he always had at the ready. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Yvonne, his parents James and Opal, sisters Georgia and Anna, son-in-law Pat Coltrain, grandsons Christopher Ray and Andrew Morton, and great-grandson Dallas Weaver. Those left to remember him are his sister Julia, daughter Teresa Bissenas Greenhill and her family Hannah Williams (Matthew, Anna) and Christian, son Thaddius Bissenas, daughter Thalia Davis (Michael) and her family David Bissenas (Samantha, Ethan), Jeffery, Michael (Stacia, Lily), Nicholas (Danyell, Gavin) Illa (Michael, Chloe), daughter Theodora Ray and her family Jessica Flatt (Rob), Anastasia, son James Bissenas (Rhonda, Ernestina, Karen, Alex, Sarah, Xavier), son James (Militza, James III, Jonathan, and Grace) daughter Jazzmyn Yehle (Stefan, Tatiana, Michael, Kohen, Rayne, and Toushyn) daughter Thomasina Rice (Tony) Angelina Colvin, (Thea) Jennifer Craven (Justin, Triston and Jacob) Terry Coltrain (Angela, Nichole, Aurora, and Terry Jr) Patrick, daughter Thetis Bissenas (Wes) Curtis Clawson (Cyndi, Hailey), Sarah Wood (Taylor Clawson, Jaymison, Spencer and Eric Jr.), Nathan Kirkpatrick, son William Jr. (Gina, Zach Mason, Ashley), daughter Thea Morton (Lincoln, (Melanie, Lucas) Marie, Lincoln, Mary), daughter Thais Bissenas (Kevin, Kevin Gonzales II, Kenneth Gonzales, their dad Kevin Gonzales, Kyle Walton (Sarah, Ava), Kory and Kevin Walton, Jr. and other extended family members and friends. Trisagion (vigil service) was held 5:00 p.m. Yesterday in the Piper-Morley-Mellinger Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Today in the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests that donations be made to St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund or your favorite charity in remembrance of William J.M. Bissenas. Our family wishes to express our deepest appreciation to the compassionate care givers at Madigan Army Medical Center. Arrangements by Piper-Morley-Mellinger Funeral Home.