Michigan man dies, day after event to celebrate his life

March 20, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. | Updated March 20, 2017 at 1:35 p.m.

by Associated Press

In this photo taken July 22, 2002, Wayne Creelman, left, gives his view on a question as Bob Eleveld listens a the GVSU Eberhardt Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. Eleveld, 80, has published his own obituary and scheduled his own memorial service after stopping cancer treatment. He announced that he will host a "celebration of life" open house on Saturday, March 18, 2017, in lieu of a funeral. (Yuli Wu/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)
In this photo taken July 22, 2002, Wayne Creelman, left, gives his view on a question as Bob Eleveld listens a the GVSU Eberhardt Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. Eleveld, 80, has published his own obituary and scheduled his own memorial service after stopping cancer treatment. He announced that he will host a "celebration of life" open house on Saturday, March 18, 2017, in lieu of a funeral. (Yuli Wu/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan lawyer and Republican activist has died, a day after hundreds of people responded to his published invitation to attend an open house to celebrate his life.

Bob Eleveld died Sunday at age 80. He was too ill from cancer to attend the event Saturday at a Grand Rapids-area golf club. Guests ate roast beef and shrimp and wrote messages that were delivered to Eleveld by family members.

His partner, Michelle McIsaac, says the reception fulfilled Eleveld's wishes. She says, "He went out with a bang." A daughter, Kerry Eleveld, says there was an "outpouring of love" in the room.

On March 12, Eleveld published his obituary and announced the open-house celebration in The Grand Rapids Press. His family called it a "no-bit" because he was still alive.

___

Information from: The Grand Rapids Press, http://www.mlive.com/grand-rapids

Upcoming Events