William "Bill" W. Bishop

William Walter Bishop, age 60, of Adel, IA passed away peacefully at home on March 22, 2019. Bill was born into the family of Walter and Joey Bishop on January 27, 1959. He and his older sister, Julie, were raised in Urbandale and lived in the Patricia Park area during their school-age years. Bill became an outdoorsman like his father and enjoyed fishing, boating, and hunting for upland birds, deer, and waterfowl alongside his dad and later his friends and sons. Bill graduated from Valley High School and accepted a scholarship to play collegiate water polo after receiving All-American honors in high school. Bill met his college sweetheart, Karen Paulson, at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Ornamental Horticulture. Bill and Karen were married on October 1, 1983, and made their home in Urbandale for several years before moving to Adel in 1993. Bill and his wife purchased Bob Lenc Landscaping from good friends Bob and Millie Lenc in 1985. They were blessed with their first son, Jonathan, in February of 1988, with another wonderful boy, Kyle, following in February of 1993. Bill loved nothing more than being with his family on a lake in Minnesota, watching fireworks on the 4th of July, snowmobiling with his boys, and fishing for northern pike, walleye, and crappie in ponds across Iowa, Missouri, and Minnesota.

Bill is survived by his son Jonathan (Laina) Bishop, grandchildren Aria, Emery, and Elliot, son Kyle (Kelsey Bailey) Bishop, sister Julie (Doug) Gibson, nephews Matthew (Gabriela Lopez) Gibson and Benjamin (Molly) Gibson, uncle James (Betty) Wise, cousin Nancy Doll, and extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends and family are invited to gather for an open house reception at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Pkwy in West Des Moines, from 4pm to 6pm on Friday, March 29, 2019. At 5:30, a few family members will share stories and remembrances. Memorials may be made to the Bill Bishop Memorial Fund in lieu of flowers.

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