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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,
 OiJDF5bRf3j46PQbJrS3xJKoNyMj5xG3AglulVAtabls8aWg31ER7dmOOb6Xuwib
 peLqJsAdpPEMQsH8tpAmVA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-001544.txt : 20030605
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-001544.hdr.sgml : 20030605
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030605100746
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-001544
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030603
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030605

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:			KNOBLAUCH LORING W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001215468

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05277
		FILM NUMBER:		03733384

	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>0001215468</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>KNOBLAUCH LORING W</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><tran
sactionDate><value>2003-06-03</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9.305</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>46.4774</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9053.792</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><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="F4"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2006-05-02</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></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><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></direc
tOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares acquired from Dividend Reinvestment Plan Account - 9.305 shares.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Security converts to Common Stock on a one-for-one basis on date of exercise.</footnote><footnote id="F3">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="F4">Will know price at a later date.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>J J Seifert Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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