Robert "Bob" Shipley

Robert “Bob” Shipley "What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us." Helen Keller Robert “Bob” Shipley will forever be a part of us. On April 21, 2024, we said our earthly goodbyes and he embarked on a journey known only to those who have lived life to its fullest. Surrounded by his loving family with a heart filled with wonder and hope, Bob set forth on his final adventure, secure in the knowledge he’d be reunited on the other side with his Beloved wife, Peg, his many loved ones, and the grace of God. Born in Bloomington, Illinois on April 15, 1942, Bob was raised on Forrest Street, home of the Knapp family land. He graduated from Trinity High School in 1960 and answered the call to serve his country in the United States Air Force, where he proudly served as an air traffic controller in Alaska. Bob met and married the love of his life, Margaret “Peg” Whalen Shipley, whom he met through one of his best friends and Peg's younger brother, Pat Whalen. Bob and Peg were married in Northern California in 1965 and enjoyed a fifty-seven-year odyssey of friendship, laughter, and love. In the late 60's, Bob and Peg returned to Bloomington to be closer to their families. Bob’s 35-year career in computer operations for General Electric and Illinois State University supported both his family and his passion for learning and adventure. A passionate reader with a talent for absorbing and retaining information, Bob was much in demand when it came to games of trivia. Along with Bob’s personal in-home library, he had a vast and rich vinyl collection. He loved to talk books and music and could spend hours in a used book shop. Also, a man of true devotion, he was a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan who lived to see his dream of a World Series Championship achieved in 2016. Bob never lost his desire to travel. In 2022, at the age of 80, he completed his quest of visiting all 50 states by making Rhode Island his final conquest. An avid fisherman, he dropped a line into countless bodies of water, from Central Illinois ponds to the Boundary Waters, all five Great Lakes, and Canada. One of Bob’s greatest joys was returning home to his roots on Forrest Street where he and Peg raised their four children and sowed seeds of kindness, respect, and unconditional love. A man brimming with love and patience, Bob cultivated his relationships with the same care he lavished on his abundant garden on the Knapp Family Land. Bright blue eyes sparkling with good humor, he relished time spent with family and friends as much as he loved watching the birds in the tranquillity of his lush backyard. Bob is survived by his children Jennifer (Christopher) Sawyer, Christine (Randy) Johnson, Patrick (Shelby) Shipley, Bill (Anita) Shipley, and the son of his heart, Wil (Rodney) Robinson. His eight grandchildren; Kyle, Sean, Sophia, Haley, Sam, Charlie, Marie and Jack were the delight of his life. He also leaves behind his sister, Rose Mary Coyle as well as Peg’s siblings Mike Whalen, Anne Neal, Jane Lowry, Mary Jo Macomber, Tom Whalen, Datie Wynne, Theresa Stout, and their families. Bob was preceded in death by his cherished wife Peg and their infant son, Charles Shipley, parents Charles and Rose Knapp Shipley, and sister, Kay Hopkins. Cremation rites have been accorded. A joint Memorial Mass for Bob and Peg is scheduled for Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 1:00PM at St. Mary’s Church in Bloomington, Illinois. The service will be live streamed for those unable to attend in person. There will also be a Celebration of Life Luncheon at St. Mary’s immediately following the mass. In lieu of flowers, Bob requested donations be given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.