Casey Jo Bishop — Garden City, Kan.

The celebration of life for Casey Jo Bishop, 28, of Garden City, Kan., formerly of Stewartville, will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 7, 2013, at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville, with the Rev. Byron Meline, the Rev. Emily Carson and the Rev. Karen Pahl officiating.

Casey joined her Lord and Savior surrounded by her family and friends on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013, following an aggressive illness with tumefactive multiple sclerosis at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester, where she had been a patient since Aug. 23.

Casey Jo Bishop was born Sept. 19, 1985, to Joy Ann Bishop in Spencer, Iowa. Casey and her mother moved to Stewartville when she was four years old where she attended the Stewartville public schools and graduated in 2003. While growing up, Casey was an active part of Zion Lutheran Church and was involved with various youth programs as well as teaching Sunday school. She then went on to attend Winona State University in Winona, graduating in 2007 Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in elementary education. Casey then moved to Garden City, Kan., in 2007 where she began teaching second grade at Victor Ornelas Elementary School. She had just begun her sixth year at Victor Ornelas when Casey was affected by the illness that took her life and the career she loved.

A true reflection of Casey's love for children was demonstrated through her years of employment with Tiger Time, Key Kids and the YMCA after school program. Casey also prided herself in being a big sister through the Y program and a 4-H leader. Casey's love for the Lord was lifted up through her voice, as she was a member of the praise choir at New Life Community Church in Garden City, which was her current faith community. She was also passionate about reading, listening to music, watching movies, playing board games and cards. She followed the Vikings, especially #28, and the Minnesota Wild. She enjoyed collecting VW Bug model cars and drove a lime green Volkswagen Beetle.

Casey loved life, loved her Lord, lived her faith on a daily basis, and was blessed to take trips home to visit her mom and dad, her grandparents, family, friends and her dogs, Laney and Cameron.

Casey grew close to the staff at Saint Marys Hospital during her stay and they to her. Her family thanks the entire staff for their loving care and support.

Casey is survived by her parents, Joy and Brad Cole of Rochester; maternal grandparents, Wayne (MaryBeth) Bishop of Everly, Iowa, and Cheryl (Stan) Cox of Oregon; paternal grandparents, Irvin (Pam) Johnson of Everly, Iowa, Sandy (Robert) Hoffman of Estherville, Iowa, and Lucien (Carol) Cole of Stewartville; paternal great-grandmothers, Thora Grover of Spencer, Iowa, Mildred Webb of Des Moines, Iowa, and Deloris Means of Spring Valley; and many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins.

Casey was preceded in death by her great-grandparents and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Friends may call from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday morning.

A private family burial will take place at a later date at Lone Tree Cemetery in rural Everly, Iowa.

Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville. griffin-gray.com .