-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GFe5bU13FFKJgfpXXyOruAYIQFLrE/Go9ShUg4XOaS6gvPjloBC9r0J6fwt5UTL6
 gDyKzXVJnDhu2S/yguD8yw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-001519.txt : 20030604
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-001519.hdr.sgml : 20030604
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030604144339
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-001519
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030603
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030604

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BEMIS CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000011199
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CONVERTED PAPER & PAPERBOARD PRODS (NO CONTAINERS/BOXES) [2670]
		IRS NUMBER:				430178130
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MO
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		222 S 9TH ST STE 2300
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55402-4099
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6123763000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 2:		222 S 9TH STREET SUITE 2300
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55402-4099

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROE JOHN H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001215472

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05277
		FILM NUMBER:		03732312

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BEMIS CO INC
		STREET 2:		222 S. 9TH ST. #2300
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55402
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6123763000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BEMIS CO INC
		STREET 2:		222 S. 9TH ST. #2300
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55402
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -2003-06-03
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-03</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000011199</issuerCik><issuerName>BEMIS CO INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>BMS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001215472</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>ROE JOHN H</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionD
ate><value>2003-06-03</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20300</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>45.9686</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>611252</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-03-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J<
/transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16589</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>401(k) Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>1988-08-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvo
lved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>80622</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>1988-08-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transacti
onTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>80000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Parents</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>1988-08-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><tr
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ionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9416</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-12-31</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-12-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>9416</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9416</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></conversionOrExercisePri
ce><transactionDate><value>2003-05-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>984</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2006-05-02</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-05-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>984</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>984</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><dir
ectOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>24.6250</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>1994-06-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>32927</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1997-06-08</value><footnoteId id="F8"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-06-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingS
ecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>32927</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>32927</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>22.0625</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>1994-12-04</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>19149</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transac
tionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1997-12-04</value><footnoteId id="F8"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-12-04</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>19149</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19149</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>32.3125</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>1996-02-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transact
ionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>81777</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1999-02-22</value><footnoteId id="F8"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-02-22</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>81777</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>81777</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>37.6250</valu
e></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>1999-01-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>35405</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2002-01-01</value><footnoteId id="F8"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-01-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>35405</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>35405</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransac
tionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>34.8750</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2000-01-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>189154</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-01-01</value><footnoteId id="F8"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-01-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value
>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>189154</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>189154</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Sale pursuant to SEC Rule 10b5-1 Stock Sale Plan effective May 29, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F2">No change necessary for this filing.</footnote><footnote id="F3">No price nessary for Edgar.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Security converts to Common Stock on a one-for-one basis on date of exercise.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Will know price at a later date.</footnote><footnote id="F6">Award under Bemis Performance Based Restricted Stock Award Program exempt under Rule 16b-3: Grant to Reporting Person of right to receive stock as of 12/31/03 upon Company achieving certain performan
ce goals.</footnote><footnote id="F7">Award granted pursuant to 2001 Stock Incentive Plan exempt under Rule 16b-3: Grant to Reporting Person of right to receive stock as of 5/2/06.</footnote><footnote id="F8">Stock Option (right to buy) pursuant to 1987 Stock Option Plan exempt under Rule 16b-3: Option presently exercisable.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>J J Seifert Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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