WAYLAND, Mich. — Steve Wiltz says his father Ralph was always the funniest person in the room.

“He was always laughing, and we joked around all the time growing up,” Wiltz said.

After a two-week stay at the hospital in July, he died at 66, leaving Steve and his sisters devastated but determined to spread his legacy of laughter and happiness.

After having him cremated, the family distributed vials of fake ashes at the funeral services, encouraging people to ‘continue to laugh’ with Ralph.

“It made the service more enjoyable and more lighthearted," Wiltz said. "I think he's a lot like I am. I wouldn't want a bunch of people just clamoring around and, you know, bumming out all the time just because I was gone."

Steve and his sisters decided to leave some of the leftover vials in various

See Full Page