-----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,
 TqwJ4OXdt5dbTSch/sZj9VQ5nLltGMPu0gBpsLqQ807ShP5bRei/wYm/NPHvaXY8
 ONjfwr6YQIu/5V1yDxBoCw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-011703.txt : 20031203
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-011703.hdr.sgml : 20031203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031203122400
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-011703
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030502
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031203

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:		031034602

	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 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-05-02</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>SUITE 2300</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>222 S. 9TH ST.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNEAPOLIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55402-4099</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-09-02</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9.551</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>45.5524</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9063.343</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-01</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9.541</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>45.8819</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9072.884</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-05-02</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>984</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F4"></footnoteId>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2006-05-02</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</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>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares acquired from Dividend Reinvestment Plan Account.</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>2003-12-03</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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