Nila Jean Bishop

Nila “Jean” Bishop, 80, of Eau Claire, peacefully passed away in the arms of God on Tuesday, September 20, 2016, at Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph.

A visitation with the family will be from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Saturday, September 24, at Bowerman Funeral Home in Eau Claire, with the funeral immediately following.  Online condolences may be left at www.bowermanfuneral.com.  Memorial donations may be made to the family.

Jean was born January 1, 1936, in Benton Harbor.  She was elected the first Councilwoman in the Village of Eau Claire and served over a decade.  She was a freelance reporter for local newspapers, and she later worked at the Eau Claire Packing Company in charge of quality control.  Jean then owned Lacy Lily Florist and Antiques in Eau Claire until the late 1990s.

Jean is survived by her husband of 63 years, Harold Bishop; her children: Nancy (Dave) Nieset of Mishawaka, Jeananne Bishop of Benton Harbor, Edie (Dave) Zars of Bridgman, Wayne (Debbie) Bishop of Indian Head, Maryland; grandchildren: Jason Medlin, Laura Swanson, Melissa Cromer, Diana Klemp, Benjamin Kicas, Jacob and Josh Zars, Nick, Chris and Karma Nieset; 14 great-grandchildren; and sister, Shirley (Ron) Beilman of Berrien Center.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Marvelle Grant; brothers, Fred and Phil Grant; granddaughter, Julie Merideth.