Merrill Keith "Gus" Bishop passed away on January 24, 2014 at age 87, with his wife Clara by his side. He was born April 10, 1926 to parents Lester and Ina Sieverson Bishop in Newcastle, Nebraska. Merrill grew up on the family farm and attended the Lime Grove School through 8th grade. The family moved closer to Newcastle, where he went through High School. Shortly thereafter, he was drafted into the Army and served overseas in Korea from 1945-1946. He returned home and farmed for 4 years. The family moved to California where he worked various jobs, ending up at Cross Country Trucking, leasing his truck to United Van Lines where he received many safe driving awards. In 1981, he married his wonderful wife Clara, eventually settling in Springfield, MO in 1995. Merrill's loves were farm tractors, truck tractors, cars, motorcycles, guns, prairie dog and crow shooting and his family. He is preceded in death by his parents Lester and Ina Bishop, infant brother Lowell, sister Dorothy and stepdaughter Sandie. He is survived by his wife Clara, stepdaughter Jeannie and her fiancé J.R. Hutson, stepsons Dennis Ewing and his wife Kellie, Jim Bishop and daughter Debbie Michaelson, two very special grandsons Josh and Justin Ewing, and other granddaughters, great-grandsons and great- granddaughters, and many good friends and relatives. Merrill will be cremated and on April 10, 2014 at 1 PM, he will be taken back to his home town in Newcastle, Nebraska for military graveside services at Newcastle Cemetery with the Reverend Gary Kimm officiating. This would have been his 88th birthday and his and Clara's 33rd wedding anniversary. Arrangements are being handled by Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home in Springfield, MO and Mohr Funeral Home in Ponca, Nebraska. He is deeply missed, and is no longer in pain or suffering. We all loved him. Until we meet again. Memorial donations can be made to the Newcastle American Legion Post 62, Newcastle, Nebraska, 68757.