Drowning Victim Was 'Kind, Gentle' and Loved To Fish: Obituary

LIBERTYVILLE, IL -- A funeral and memorial visitation for the 25-year-old man who drowned at Independence Grove last weekend has been set for this Saturday. Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper said Nicholas Bishop suffered a medical emergency, which lead to him falling into the water at Independence Grove while he was fishing on Aug. 11, according to the Lake County News-Sun. A memorial visitation for Bishop will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of his memorial mass at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Holy Apostles, 5211 Bull Valley Road in McHenry, according to Bishop's obituary.

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Bishop was fishing with another person on a rented boat on the far northern portion of the forest preserve when he fell into the lake and did not surface, John Tannahill, chief of Rangers for the Lake County Forest Preserve, told the Lake County News-Sun. Sonar equipment was brought to the lake to try and locate him.

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The Libertyville Fire Department as well as divers and personnel, some with specialized equipment, from 20 area fire departments aided in the search, authorities said. The depth, topography and debris in the water made it hard for emergency personnel to find and rescue Bishop.

Bishop is being remembered as a kind and gentle person who was mischievous in a fun and joking manner, according to his obituary. He loved to fish and fixing cars and even rebuilt his own bicycle.

"He loved his family very much and will be sorely missed by all who knew him," according to his obituary.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Nick's name to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, 26 Broadway, 14th floor, New York, NY 10004.