Fred Phelps, the former leader of the hate-mongering Westboro Baptist Church has died, it was announced on Thursday.
His son Timothy confirmed the 84-year-old passed away shortly before midnight, Kansas First News reports.
The Westboro Baptist Church gained a repulsive notoriety for picketing the funerals of US servicemen killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Fred Phelps has died aged 84
It claimed the deaths are God's punishment for American immorality and tolerance of homosexuality and abortion.
Phelps's son Nathan who left the group in 1980, revealed his father was dying via Facebook on Sunday.
He also claimed his father had been excommunicated from the church in August 2013.
Westboro Baptist Church
(01 of12)
A protestor, left, challenges the sign a Westboro Baptist Church demonstrator is holding near Central High School in St. Joseph, Mo., Friday, Oct. 11, 2013. (credit:AP)
Houston Rockets v Oklahoma City Thunder - Game Five(02 of12)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 01: A member of the Westboro Baptist Church protests gay rights and the NBA as police officers look on before Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets outside of Chesapeake Energy Arena on May 1, 2013 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Supreme Court Hears Arguments On California's Prop 8 And Defense Of Marriage Act(03 of12)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Two same sex couples kiss in front of Westboro Baptist Church protesters, at the U.S. Supreme Court, on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. Today the high court is scheduled to hear arguments on whether Congress can withhold federal benefits from legally wed gay couples by defining marriage as only between a man and a woman. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Houston Rockets v Oklahoma City Thunder - Game Five(04 of12)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 01: Members of the Westboro Baptist Church protest outside of the Chesapeake Energy Arena before Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets on May 1, 2013 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Supreme Court Hears Arguments On California's Prop 8 And Defense Of Marriage Act(05 of12)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Cd Kirven (R) of Dallas, Texas, uses a pride flag to block demonstrators from the Westboro Baptist Church during rally outside the Supreme Court during oral arguments in a case challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the second case this week about same-sex marriage. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Supreme Court Hears Arguments On California's Prop 8 And Defense Of Marriage Act(06 of12)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 26: New York based drag performer Qween Amor dances during a rally while surrounded by protesters from the conservative Westboro Baptist Church in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on March 26, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court is hearing arguments March 26, in California's proposition 8, the controversial ballot initiative that defines marriage only between a man and a woman. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Supreme Court Hears Arguments On California's Prop 8 And Defense Of Marriage Act(07 of12)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 26: New York based drag performer Qween Amor dances during a rally while surrounded by protesters from the conservative Westboro Baptist Church in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on March 26, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court is hearing arguments March 26, in California's proposition 8, the controversial ballot initiative that defines marriage only between a man and a woman. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Supreme Court Hears Arguments On California's Prop 8 And Defense Of Marriage Act(08 of12)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: A same sex couple kisses in front of Westboro Baptist Church protesters, at the U.S. Supreme Court, on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. Today the high court is scheduled to hear arguments on whether Congress can withhold federal benefits from legally wed gay couples by defining marriage as only between a man and a woman. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Supreme Court Hears Arguments On California's Prop 8 And Defense Of Marriage Act(09 of12)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Married couple Nathan Lents (L) and Oscar Cifuentes kiss in front of Westboro Baptist Church protesters, in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. Today the high court is scheduled to hear arguments on whether Congress can withhold federal benefits from legally wed gay couples by defining marriage as only between a man and a woman. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Supreme Court Hears Arguments On California's Prop 8 And Defense Of Marriage Act(10 of12)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 26: A protester from the conservative Westboro Baptist Church demonstrates in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on March 26, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court is hearing arguments March 26, in California's proposition 8, the controversial ballot initiative that defines marriage only between a man and a woman. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Barack Obama Sworn In As U.S. President For A Second Term(11 of12)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Demonstrators from the Westboro Baptist Church hold up signs along the Inaugural Parade route as U.S. President Barack Obama's motorcade travels from the White House to the U.S. Captiol along Pennsylvania Avenue January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. Obama and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will begin their second term in office by taking the Oath of Office later in the morning during a ceremony on the West Front of the U.S. Captiol. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Jamey Johnston(12 of12)
Jamey Johnston, of Chicago, who helped Joplin rebuild as part of Americorps, holds up a sign in protest of the Westboro Baptist Church protestors, background, Monday afternoon, May 21, 2012, at Missouri Southern State University. The Westboro group was protesting Joplin, President Barack Obama and homosexuality. (AP Photo/The Joplin Globe, T. Rob Brown) (credit:AP)
Westboro Baptist Protests
Cory Monteith(01 of15)
The Westboro Baptist Church announced on Twitter Sunday morning that they will be picketing "Glee" star Cory Monteith's funeral. Monteith was found dead in his hotel room Saturday, July 13, after the staff realized he had missed his checkout time. He was 31 years old.Read more here
Paul Walker(02 of15)
Westboro Baptist 'Church' will be picketing Paul Walker's funeral, because harassing grieving people is just part of their creed.Read more here
Blake Shelton Is The Opposite Of Scared(03 of15)
Despite the stunning failure of their recent protest at a Ke$ha concert, the Westboro Baptist Church is at it again, announcing its intentions to picket the next performance of The Voice judge Blake Shelton on October 3 in Kansas City.In characteristic fashion, the Westboro Baptist Church has been furiously tweeting accusations and slurs at Shelton, accompanied by the declaration, "We know BS when we see it!"Read more
Philip Seymour Hoffman(04 of15)
As the world mourns the untimely death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, one group is already dancing on his grave, and plans to picket his funeral. This will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the hate group known as the Westboro Baptist 'Church,' who also planned to picket the funerals of Paul Walker and Cory Monteith earlier this year.Read more here
Oscars(05 of15)
A group of Westboro Baptist Church protesters brought their signature brand of in-your-face activism to Hollywood, chanting and waving signs with messages like "GOD H8S FAGS" at tourists and insiders making their way to this year's Oscar ceremony.Photo: Steve Drain (seen right), a member of the Westboro Baptist Church, holds up an anti-gay sign at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and N. Highland Ave, in Los Angeles, California. (credit:The Huffington Post)
Presidential Inauguration(06 of15)
Read the story of WBC's inauguration fail here.Photo: Demonstrators from the Westboro Baptist Church hold up signs along the Inaugural Parade route as U.S. President Barack Obama's motorcade travels from the White House to the U.S. Captiol along Pennsylvania Avenue Jan. 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. Obama and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will begin their second term in office by taking the Oath of Office later in the morning during a ceremony on the West Front of the U.S. Captiol. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Maryland Gay Marriage(07 of15)
Same-sex Maryland couples planning to tie the knot were greeted by anti-gay marriage protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church outside the Annapolis courthouse on Jan. 2. (credit:Flickr:Michael_Lehet)
Matthew Shepard(08 of15)
The Westboro Baptist Church first gained national notice at the funeral of Matthew Shepard who had been robbed, brutally beaten and left to die in Laramie, Wyoming. (credit:AP)
Steve Jobs(09 of15)
The Westboro Baptist Church threatened to picket Steve Jobs' funeral but called it off when the memorial service was held privately. (credit:AP)
Elizabeth Edwards(10 of15)
The Westboro Baptist Church picketed Elizabeth Edwards' funeral after she died of cancer. (credit:AP / Getty)
Matthew Snyder(11 of15)
The Westboro Baptist Church protested Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder after he had died serving his country in Iraq. The protest of the hate group went all the way to the Supreme Court. (credit:Getty)
Norway Shootings(12 of15)
While it is not clear that the hate group ever got there they declared their intent in this charming YouTube Video staring the head hater himself who tells the people of Norway -- God Sent the Shooter. Read more about it here. (credit:Getty)
Illinois Holocaust Museum(13 of15)
The Westboro Baptist Church protested the Illinois Holocaust Museum on the eve of Rosh Hashanah (credit:AP / Getty)
Tucson Shootings(14 of15)
The Westboro Baptist Church picketed the funerals of victims of Tucson shootings. They agreed not to picket the 9 year old Christina Taylor Green in exchange for air time on a local radio show. (credit:AP / Getty)
Michael Jackson(15 of15)
Westboro Baptist Church picketed the funeral of recording artist Michael Jackson. Members of Westboro have also recorded a song titled "God Hates the World," an adaptation of Jackson's charity single, "We Are the World." (credit:AP / Getty)