Man reveals secret identity as Spider-Man in self-written obituary
Aaron Joseph Purmort lost his battle with brain cancer last week at age 35. He was a husband, father, graphic designer and...Spider-Man.
Purmort faced death with the same sense of humor he embraced in life, revealing his identity as the web-slinging superhero and referring to his cancer as a "nefarious criminal" that he had battled for years.
The obituary reads:
His family knew him only as a kind and mild-mannered Art Director, a designer of websites and t-shirts, and concert posters who always had the right cardigan and the right thing to say (even if it was wildly inappropriate). Aaron was known for his long, entertaining stories, which he loved to repeat often.
In high school, he was in the band The Asparagus Children, which reached critical acclaim in the northern suburbs. As an adult, he graduated from the College of Visual Arts (which also died an untimely death recently) and worked in several agencies around Minneapolis, settling in as an Interactive Associate Creative Director at Colle + McVoy. Aaron was a comic book aficionado, a pop-culture encyclopedia and always the most fun person at any party.
He is survived by his parents Bill and Kim Kuhlmeyer, father Mark Purmort (Patricia, Autumn, Aly), sisters Erika and Nicole, first wife Gwen Stefani, current wife Nora and their son Ralph, who will grow up to avenge his father's untimely death.
A service will be held on December 3, 2014 at Shelter Studios, 721 Harding St. NE, Mpls 55413 at 6 pm.
Purmort penned the light-hearted tribute to his own life shortly before his passing with the help of his wife, Nora.
"I've never laughed and cried more in one sitting, but I'm so glad we got to do this," Nora wrote on Tumblr blog she kept that chronicled her husband's cancer.
The obituary, which was published in the couple's hometown of Minneapolis after his death, also touted Purmort's encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture and his reputation as "the most fun person at any party." Besides being survived by Nora and their son Ralph (who will one day avenge his father's death), Purmort also referenced his first wife, singer Gwen Stefani.
Nora was able to make light of the Stefani reference, tweeting that she hoped they could finally settle their differences.
Nora's sister has created a fundraising page to help cover the family's medical and other expenses.
Photos used with permission.
