Robert "Bish" Bishop

Some people are so vibrant and so lively that they seem to have a magnetic personality that others are just naturally drawn to. Robert “Bish” Bishop was one of those people who everyone just seemed to know and with his outgoing and fun-loving personality, this is not a surprise. Bish adored his family, but his greatest love was his Lord, his life a shining example of the Christian beliefs that were engraved upon his heart. Whether he was pitching for his softball team, enjoying a piece of great food, or watching his grandsons play football or baseball, Bish carried himself with integrity, generosity, and kindness.

Much of the 1930s were trying times for our nation as the Great Depression had been oppressing us for nearly five years. Times were tough for many Americans and they found enjoyment in whatever they could. People enjoyed board games like Monopoly, Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio drew people to the game of baseball, and horse racing was becoming legal in many states. Also during this time, Allert and Jenny (Joldersma) Bishop, of Muskegon, Michigan, were pleased to announce the birth of their son, Robert, on September, 17, 1934. Robert was the youngest of five children in the Bishop family where his father worked in the family business, Bishop Motor Express, and his mother was a homemaker who tended to the active family.

When Robert was young, his family moved to Grand Rapids, a vibrant and diverse city clustered around the Grand River, a major state waterway. Living in Grand Rapids was more advantageous for his father since it was also home to the family business. Their family settled on the southeast side of the city and Bish, as he came to be known, was raised in the Christian faith, establishing a foundation on which Bish built his entire life. He attended local Christian schools and during high school, he attended Grand Rapids Christian High where he played the tuba.

After graduating from high school in 1952, Bish attended Calvin College, a nationally known Christian college located in Grand Rapids, for one year. Bish then informed his father that his college career was simply a waste of money since he wanted to be a trucker. Bish did indeed become a trucker and drove full-time for the family business where he hauled freight around western Michigan to places such as Holland, Muskegon, and Spring Lake.

Life was forever changed for Bish when he "noticed" a young gal named Dorothy “Dort” DeWys. Although Bish previously knew who she was, Dort really caught his eye one day when she was hanging out with her cheerleader friends downtown on Monroe Avenue. He offered her a ride in his convertible (he loved convertibles of all kinds), but she blew him off. Bish offered her a ride again an hour later – this time she accepted. The couple enjoyed their first date at the Civic Theatre and after dating for three years, they were united in marriage on May 23, 1958.

After a honeymoon along the East Coast, the newlyweds prepared to move into a new home that was showcased in the Parade of Homes, but they lived with relatives for three months while the home was being completed. The couple was soon blessed with two children: Julie, in 1960, and Jodie, in 1963. Bish was a dedicated father who was always there for his girls even though he worked 70 hours a week. He was sensitive to his girls’ needs and was usually the one to stay with them when they had a bad dream. Bish was known to take his girls to the drive-in for hot dogs and root beer along the lakeshore which they did often, and also took them to watch the sunset which he so loved to do. Bish treasured living by the lake, and had a love of the beach, especially hearing the fog horn. Their family took trips to Florida and Arizona every year and there were also numerous day trips throughout Michigan. Their girls grew up with an appreciation for extended family since family always gathered with both sides of relatives to celebrate all holidays and again at the DeWys family farm during warm weather.

Bish was truly one-of-a-kind and such a special man to so many. He was outgoing and passionate and was always willing to help someone in any way he could. Bish liked any type of food Dort made for him, and he even learned to like Polish food. Bish’s favorite treat was carrot cake and he loved a good cup of coffee too. Bish played softball on a number of recreational leagues and at one time, he even became a professional fast-pitch pitcher for a softball team. He enjoyed working in his yard, landscaping and building fences around his home. Bish was a sports enthusiast and he had a passion for music as well.

Later in life, Bish continued to pursue the things he loved. When his family grew to include grandchildren, there were simply more people for him to love. Bish was actively involved in the lives of his grandchildren, attending their various activities including choir concerts, football games, and many more. Bish was especially proud of his grandson’s league championship this past year, and in so many ways, Bish seemed to live for his grandchildren. When he retired at the age of 57, Bish enjoyed spending more time with his family without the pressures of his job.

Faith was always important to Bish, and he lived his life to be the hands and feet of God in every way he could. He was an active member at his church, Trinity Congregational, where he served on several boards, was a trustee at church and on the Pilgrim Manor Board. He combined his love for music and his beautiful singing voice to touch the hearts of others.

Robert “Bish” Bishop was a trusting and loyal man with a genuine servant’s heart. He didn’t focus his time and effort on achieving praises from his peers or the acquisition of material wealth, but what he did focus on, was loving his Lord, his family, and all those around him. Bish loved gathering with family around the holidays, and hosting parties with his wife at his home – he was an outgoing man through and through. He leaves behind a lifetime of precious memories that will surely withstand the test of time.

Robert “Bish” H. Bishop of Grand Rapids died on July 9, 2009. Bish’s family includes his wife of 51 years, Dort A. Bishop; daughters, Julie (Gary) Naill and children, Bradon and Brittany; Jodi (Mike) Tobin and children, Jordan and Jarrett Fennema and Colin Tobin; Lee Fennema; his brother, Cornelius Bishop; sister, Carolyn Steenstra; several in-laws, Stan DeHaan, Esther (Earl) Husted, Gene (Mary) DeWys, Pauline DeWys, and Richard Dykstra. A Celebration of his Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday at Richmond Reformed Church. Friends may meet the family on Saturday from 6-8 p.m. and Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a memory or photo, or sign the guestbook prior to coming to the funeral home.