Emerson Melvin (Pete) Bissinger

Emerson (Pete) Melvin Bissinger, born June 1, 1925 unexpectedly
entered heaven on May 21, 2021. Pete led an amazing life full of love and grace. He was born in Decatur, Ohio to Harry Christian Bissinger and Lois Melvin Bissinger. As a child on a 100 acre farm, Pete worked tirelessly at home, became the valedictorian of his high school class, and passed the time listening to the Cincinnati Reds on radio. He left home in the summer of 1943 and became a proud member of the United States Army during WWII. Upon his discharge in 1946 he attended Ohio University where he discovered his love for engineering and for Nancy Rae Osbun. Nancy and Pete were married on September 3, 1950. After Nancy's graduation they began a family and a life together that lasted 40 wonderful years. Pete worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad, a career he later spoke of often and fondly, and Nancy mothered Diane Rae (Colburn), Harry Osbun and Mark Christian. Pete and Nancy ultimately settled in Cincinnati, Ohio when Pete began a 20 year career with the Hamilton County Engineer's office. Life was filled with baseball, youth, high school and college sports, theatre, cheerleading, community leadership, and service at the Anderson Hills United Methodist Church. Upon retirement in 1985 Pete and Nancy moved to Deland, Florida to be with brothers, sisters, and children. Life
was full of travel, building a home on the beautiful Lake Talmadge, and service to the Deland United Methodist Church. Nancy and Pete also continued to enjoy the loving and fun relationships with Nancy's brother Harry Osbun (deceased) and his wife Evie (deceased), and Nancy's sister Ginny (deceased) and her husband Dwight McCoy (deceased). In 1991 while the birth of Pete's first grandchild, Lucas Christian Bissinger (Cincinnati) was a blessing, Nancy predeceased him. Two more grandchildren were soon to arrive: Katy Jane Bissinger (Ocala) and Nathan Kenneth Bissinger (Cincinnati) were born and all three were great sources of Pete's pride and joy. In 1996 Pete married the second love of his life, Sharon Yvonne Rice. With Sharon came her children, Wendy (Rice) and Julian Pizzo (Raleigh), Kristi (Rice) and Matt Cornish (Detroit area), and David Rice (Detroit area). Soon eight step-grandchildren followed to provide even more joy with the ever growing family. With travel (including pictures at all 50 state capitals), children, grandchildren, fantasy baseball leagues, church, service to others, and leading the effort to plan, finance, and build the Life Enrichment Center at Deland United Methodist Church, life was full and happy. Pete was a tremendous listener, friend, confidant, and supporter to countless people that loved him dearly including his children, son-in-law Ronald Price Colburn (deceased), daughter-in-law Julie Furber Bissinger, brother Jackie Christian Bissinger (deceased) and his wife Linda, and his sister Geraldine Bissinger (Wilmoth) (deceased) and her husband Orville Wilmoth (deceased). Pete had a special fondness and love for his many nieces, nephews, and their spouses and children spread across several states. Their relationships were built on time spent together and a true interest in their lives and happiness. The fondness was returned by each. Pete, dad, grandpa, grand-Pete, and uncle Pete will be missed, but we are comforted by knowing he believed his life was full, he was happy through the day he left this life, and he is now with family and friends in heaven, life everlasting.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 27th at 10am at the Life Enrichment Center at First United Methodist Church in DeLand, with the family receiving friends 1 hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at DeLand Memorial Gardens. Online condolences may be made at www.allensummerhill.com. Allen-Summerhill DeLand is in charge of arrangements.