Wesley Whitefield Bishop Jr.

May 23, 1946 – July 17, 2018

Eight years ago, on life support while he awaited a heart transplant, Wes saw a vision of sitting at a banquet table with many friends, waiting for Jesus to come around the corner.  Though he received a new heart and rejoined his family and friends for nearly a decade longer, on July 17 he returned to that banquet to meet Jesus for good, at the age of 72.

Wesley Whitefield Bishop Jr. passed away from organ failure resulting from biliary cancer on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, in hospice care, surrounded by family, near his home in Glen Ellyn, IL, a short distance from Oak Park, IL, the Chicago suburb where he grew up.

A Vietnam War helicopter pilot turned real estate hobbyist and homeschool teacher, Wes retired from the U.S. Army in 1996, after 30 years of service.  In recent years he became an avid tennis player, joining the DuPage Tennis Club and playing up to 16 hours a week (he even attempted to escape his most recent hospital bed to get back on the court).  His other hobbies included listening to sermons, writing to-do lists, and stockpiling bargains.

Wes loved life and was reluctant to let go of the here and now, but was always ready to recognize God's special intervention in everyday life.  He was passionate about hospitality and opened his home and heart to countless others for meals, a place to stay, and hours of conversation.  He will be missed by the many college students and others he hosted and served.

Wes walked with his brother, Bruce Clifford Bishop, through Bruce's terminal illness ending in 2016, loving his sister-in-law Susan, and nieces and nephew Tarah, Alissa (Joe and Joey DeWitt), and Daniel.

Wes is survived by the wife he loved, Lois (née Dunkeld), and the children he adored, Mara Elisabeth (Josh) Okerman, "Chip" Wesley Whitefield (Elisa) Bishop III, and "J.J." Joshua Jonathan Bishop.

The family will host a visitation for family and friends on Saturday, July 28, 2018 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL .  A celebration of life service will be held on Sunday, July 29, 2018 at 3 p.m. at Highpoint Church, 1310 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL , followed by a dinner of some of Wes' favorite foods.  A burial service will take place Monday, July 30, 2018, at 11 a.m. at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, 20953 W. Hoff Rd., Elwood, IL .

Memorial gifts may be given toward camper scholarships to Camp Awana, c/o Latham Christian Camping, 9025 Camp Awana Rd., Fredonia, WI 53021 , http://campawana.net/donate . Please write "Wes Bishop Memorial" in the memo field of your donation.

Special thanks to the Loyola University Medical Center's Heart Transplant team and nursing staff, who helped give Wes new life, support, and many smiles over the past eight years.