Obituary - The St. Ignace News - 14 Nov 2013

Capt. James J. Bishop, 87, of St. Ignace, MI passed away peacefully on November 1, 2013, at Mackinac Straits Hospital after suffering a stroke on October 19 at his home. He was born in Sault Ste. Marie, MI on April 3, 1926 to Capt. Melvin (Mike) and Eileen (Hassett) Bishop. He graduated from St. Leo High School in Chicago and joined the U.S. Merchant Marine under the U.S. Coast Guard, serving active duty in the Atlantic War Zone and the Mediterranean Middle East War Zone on the John F. Cushing vessel and the Kettle Creek vessel from 1943 to 1945. He was honorably discharged in May 1945 and was then drafted in the Army during the Korean War and served until 1952. Capt. Jim had his own ferry boats (Fairy Isle and the Shawnee) that serviced St. Ignace to Mackinac Island during the 60s. During this time, he started the Mighty Mac Cruises, taking tourists below the Mackinac Bridge at night aboard the Fairy Isle to view the bridge lights. In the early 70s, Capt. Jim was night watchman on the hand bomber, the Chief Wawatam. After that, he began a charter fishing business out of Charlevoix, MI. Once he retired that business, he served as a relief Captain for the Arnold Line and Star Line ferry boats in St. Ignace. For many years, he was a Licensed Tug Boat Captain and worked on the Great Lakes until retirement.

While Capt. Jim was always passionate about music, it wasn’t until his retirement that he immersed himself completely and became a one-man band performing several shows per month in St. Ignace and Florida. He loved the jazz standards and Country Music, sang and played cornet, ukulele, cabasa and tambourine. He was often seen driving through town with one hand on the wheel and the other holding his horn and playing a tune. The Captain was a member of the VFW, American Legion, St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, and the Seafarers Union. He was always called upon to play Taps at the memorial services for his fellow veterans.

Capt. Jim Bishop is survived by his wife of 59 years, Norma (Paquin), brother Bob Bishop (Evergreen Shores), son James J. Bishop, Jr. (St. Ignace), daughters Ann Marie Bishop (Englewood, FL) and Mary Jo Bishop (Nashville, TN), grandchildren Mary Eileen Harris (Chi- cago), Katie Harris Keel (South Carolina), James Gardner Harris (South Korea), Jimmy Joe Bishop (North Carolina), Angela Nefcy Kolar (Seattle), Kiara Bishop (St. Ignace), and great grandchild Anna Jean Keel (South Carolina).

At the Captain’s request, there will be no memorial service at this time. There will be much music and merriment next summer when the family hosts a gathering on the shores of Lake Michigan to celebrate his life. His cremains will be buried at St. Ignatius Cemetery. Dodson Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

The family bids a fond farewell to their sweet Papa Jim, one of the kindest and most gentle souls to walk this earth. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, a top-notch Captain of the Great Lakes, a grand storyteller and musician. He will forever remain in their hearts.