Joyce Elaine Bishop

Joyce Elaine Bishop, age 96, died on February 27, 2026, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born on November 15, 1929, to John and Freda (Schoepke) Collier in Monico. She married Clarence “Buck” Bishop on March 11, 1950. They lived in Rhinelander from 1950 to 1960 and then moved to Milwaukee in 1960. In 1964 they returned to their home in Rhinelander and have lived there since. They left Rhinelander with four children and four years later returned with nine children, which included two sets of twins. They had 13 children altogether. 

Our mother loved children, she said from the moment she held her babies in her arms her love for them was unconditional. When the grandchildren started being born, it brought so much joy into her life. She cared for almost all her grandchildren while their parents were at work. Then the great-grandchildren came along, and she was always so excited when the time came, she could hold them in her arms. Throughout our lives we knew our mother was always there for us and always loved us. Growing up our house seemed to be the gathering place for our neighborhood friends; they knew Mrs. Bishop would always be home and every day she would have something baked whether it was cookies, doughnuts or cakes. All these years later, our friends from years ago would stop by the house to see our mother if they were in town. Not only was she the greatest mother and grandmother she was a great sister to her siblings; she was the center of her family once her parents passed away. She will be missed so much by her family, but we will have nothing but wonderful memories of her.

She is survived by her five sons, Mike (Val), Tom, Jack (Bridget), Bill (Angie), Rick (Pam) and her five daughters, Barbara (Joel) Knoeck, Sherry Kropidlowski (Dennis), Terri, Jill and Lois (Steve) Godawa. Her 16 grandchildren, Steve, Tina, Tracy, Michelle, April, Tim, Ann, Melissa, Jared, Kyle, Brett, Kalli, Madison, Brandon, Kelsi and Ian, 30 great-grandchildren, 13 great-great-grandchildren and two step-grandchildren, Kyle and Mallory and six step-great-grandchildren. Also survived by her brother William (Pat) Collier and sisters: Lois (Larry) Russ, Susan Yonker and Linda (Ed) Choinski and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Clarence, her parents; John and Freda Collier, son Stephen, infant children Dennis and Cindy, daughter-in-law Susan, great-grandchild Karter, step-grandchild Ridge, her brothers: Gerald and Russell, sister: Kathleen “Trink” Kincaid and Louise Stroede.

We would like to thank Moments Hospice Care and their staff for the kindness and care they provided for our mom these last several weeks.

A special thanks to Pastor Schultz for all the visits he has had with our mom. Those visits meant so much to her. Joyce was a member of Zion Lutheran Church; when she passed, she had been the oldest member of the church.

Visitation for Joyce was be held on Tuesday, March 3, with funeral services that followed at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. Reverend Karl Schultz officiated. Interment followed in the Northland Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Lights of Northwoods, St. Judes or the National Kidney Foundation. You may leave your private condolences for the Bishop family at www.carlsonfh.com. The Carlson Funeral Home, 715-369-1414, is serving the Bishop family.