Mark G. Bishop

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Mark Glenn Bishop of Belvidere, Illinois who left us during the early morning of April 5, 2023 at the age of 54. Mark was born on November 26, 1968 in Chicago.  He was preceded in death by his parents Kenneth and Irene Bishop, his grandmother Ruth Boeldt, and his mother-in-law Anita Dworsky.

Mark is survived by his wife Sue Bishop, his daughter Brenda Jensen, son-in-law Andy Jensen, and grandson Liam Jensen. He is also survived by his siblings, Deborah Abney (Joe), Dave Bishop (Christine), Bonnie Bird, and sister-in-law Kathy Nagel (Mark). Mark was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by his many nieces and nephews, Jaimie Giraldo (Darley), Lindsay Abney, Brittany Dawson (Jake), Tyler Abney, Matthew Bishop, Nicole Bishop, Jason Pruitt (Staci), Carrie White (Darrell), Joe Polep, Bobby (Kasia) Polep, Amber Boyd (David) and Jason Polep.  Mark also loved and adored his great-nephews and great-nieces Levi and Barrett Dawson and Turner, Taylor and Trevor Pruitt.  He is also survived by many loving close cousins and other family.

Mark was the National Easter Seals poster child in 1973.  Even then, Mark demonstrated an unbreakable spirit from a very young age. As a boy, Mark's sunny smile and distinctive reddish-blonde hair brought joy to those around him.  His loving and caring personality touched the hearts of so many.  Everyone loved Mark.

In Junior High School, Mark tried out for the basketball team.  Although Mark wasn't selected as a player, he was selected to become the assistant to the coach.  His team spirit and willingness to help were admired and respected by all of the team members and the coach.  Mark also received athletic letters for wrestling and tennis.  Mark would often help his dad with various Peru Lions fund raisers including standing in front of stores during candy days and going door-to-door during broom sales days.  He also helped with various fund raisers at Horizon House in Peru.  Mark was also a score keeper for the Peru Little League locally and for their major traveling tournaments.  Mark earned an award for spending several summer vacations helping his favorite physical therapist at St. Margarets Hospital in Spring Valley such as bringing patients to their treatments in a wheelchair, cleaning therapy equipment and many other caring tasks.

Mark graduated from LaSalle-Peru Township High School.  He later earned an Associate’s Degree in business from Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby, IL.  He also completed courses at Illinois State University.  Mark was very proud of his degree and all of his accomplishments that followed.

Mark's career was centered around property policy examination and mortgage closing.  He worked for several employers and as an independent closing agent. Mark was also a notary public since 2001, just like his dad.  In 2002, he met his wife Sue Dworsky when they both worked in the mortgage industry. They shared many phone conversations and later decided to meet in person.  After dating for about a year, both Mark and Sue subsequently married in September 2003 which is when Mark, Sue and Brenda became a family.  Mark and Sue would have celebrated their 20th anniversary this year if not for Mark's passing.

Mark was a person of faith with his priorities in the right order who loved God and family. Mark appreciated his parents very much and often spoke about them with great love, respect and honor. Mark had a clever wit and a joking sense of humor he often expressed even in his voice messages to family.  He enjoyed attending family events whenever possible and he especially cherished his time with his grandson Liam. He was also very grateful for his daughter Brenda who did so much for him every day.

Mark's passing was so very unexpected, leaving us all with a sense of loss and sadness. We take comfort in knowing that he is now pain-free and reunited with his beloved parents in Heaven.  The following is a quote that Mark posted on a family obituary page that now brings some sense of comfort to us all, "We may not always understand why, but the Lord has a plan for all who accepts Him into our hearts."

A celebration of life for Mark will be announced at a later date.  If you would like to honor Mark, in leu of flowers please make a donation to Easter Seals in Mark's honor.  Easter Seals provided him with amazing care when he was a baby and as a young boy.  Mark will be missed and remembered forever by all his family and by all of those who knew him.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mark G. Bishop, please visit our floral store.