William Donald "Don" Bishop, 86, of Effingham, went to be with his beloved wife, Gerry, on April 17, 2012 in Zephyrhills, Florida while preparing to return home to Effingham.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 28, 2012 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham. Burial will be in St. Anthony Cemetery with military rites. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday evening at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham with a 6:30 p.m. parish wake service. Memorials may be made to St. Anthony Cemetery for perpetual care of the American flag. www.bauerfh.com

Don was born October 16, 1925 in Tolono, the son of Lon E. and Dorothy (Dust) Bishop.

He attended Neoga High School where he was a star basketball player. Upon graduation Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served as a signalman. He was stationed outside of New York to protect the harbor from spy submarines.

After the war, he met the girl of his dreams, Geraldine "Gerry" Dasenbrock and they were married in St. Anthony Catholic Church on April 7, 1947 in Effingham.

Don worked several jobs to provide for his family while attending Sparks Business College in Shelbyville. He utilized his accounting degree at Fedders Corporation for 40 years until his retirement in 1991.

He loved traveling by car, taking his family to see the U.S.A., usually with at least six of his nine children in tow. He fulfilled his dream of driving to Alaska with his son-in-law, Larry. He was a patient, easy going man with a sense of adventure and filled with wisdom. Don loved his family and always showed it. He will forever be cherished in the hearts of his family.

He is survived by four sons, Stephen (Judy) of Manhattan, MT, Thomas (Cathy) of Germantown, TN, Timothy (Jane) of Effingham and Ronald (Linda) of Mascoutah; five daughters, Christine (Jim) Nordstrom of Rockford, Janet (Larry) Pasier of Warrensburg, Julia (David) Grove of Mode, Angela (David) Long of Waterloo and Beth (Matt) Hensley of Mahomet; 22 grandchildren, Amanda (Ryan) Hamilton, Josephine (Scott) Reiger, Jennifer Nordstrom, Brian (Sarah) Nordstrom, Chelli (Eric) Johnson, Michael Pasier, Justin Bishop, Caroline Bishop, Thomas (Sarah) Grove, Joshua (Larissa Bayne) Grove, Zachary (Blake Stephens) Grove, Tyler Bishop, Katie Bishop, Nick Bishop, Ryan Bishop, Rachel Bishop, Matt Long, Brandon Long, Dylan Long, Kyle Long, Emma Hensley and Anna Hensley; 3 great-grandchildren, Benjamin Nordstrom, Cailey and Cason Johnson; sister, Gladys Maggio of Tolono; nephews, John and Don Maggio.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Geraldine and infant sister, Mildred.