William "Bill" Bishop

William Keith “Bill” Bishop, 78, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully on August 9, 2025.

Born April 15, 1947, in Monticello, Iowa, to Vera (Welker) and Chester “Chet” Bishop, Bill grew up on a farm near Mechanicsville and graduated from Stanwood High School. In 1981, he married the love of his life, Susan, in the Netherlands.

A man of remarkable dedication, Bill worked until the very last day of his life. He was a Field Sales Representative at Bill Thomas Associates, Inc., a packaging development company for aircraft components. Before joining BTA, he worked as a real estate agent for Iowa Realty. Prior to that, he enjoyed a distinguished 27-year career as a Product Support Engineer with Dunlop Aviation. His work took him and Susan from Orange County, California, to Anamosa, Iowa, in 1994 and later to Cedar Rapids in 2012.

Bill was a devout follower of Jesus Christ, blessed with wisdom, discernment, and unwavering faith. He filled many journals with his thoughts and spiritual insights. These writings remain a treasured legacy for his family and future readers. Known for his generosity and compassion, Bill quietly helped countless people throughout his life. Many described him as “an angel in disguise,” often delivering the exact words someone needed to hear and leading many hearts to Christ.

At home, Bill took great pride in his yard. He enjoyed landscaping, grading, and perfecting the flow of water across his property. He loved weekends at gun shows and the shooting range, but most of all, he cherished time spent with his family.

Bill’s impact on others cannot be measured on this side of heaven. His life was a living testament to love, faith, and service. His absence will be deeply felt by all who knew him.

He is survived by his children, Robert (Janice) Bishop, Julie (Aaron) Hammes, Patti Jean, Angela (Jason) Moore, Karen (Brian) Safley, and Laura Holmes; grandchildren: Matt, Evan, Daniel, Alan, Ashley, Amber, Austin, Adam, Allison, Alexis, Addilyn, Levi, Abel, and Elsie; seven great-grandchildren; and siblings Judy, Kathy, Marsha, Randy, and William “Billy.”

Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Susan, who passed away unexpectedly on April 17, 2025, following complications from open-heart surgery; and his parents.

Visitation will be held from 4-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 15, 2025, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, followed by a luncheon, and burial to follow at Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion, Iowa.

Please share your support and memories with Bill’s family on his Tribute Wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under Obituaries.