Vice President Pence returning to West Michigan on Wednesday

Washington — Vice President Mike Pence is returning to Michigan Wednesday for a visit to Grand Rapids, where he will tour a steel mill and meet with members of the DeVos family, which recently lost patriarch Richard M. DeVos. 

A White House official said Tuesday that Pence would visit the Mill Steel Company to meet with employees, tour the facility and deliver remarks on the Republican tax cuts.

Afterward, Pence intends to meet privately with the DeVos family on the day of the public celebration of life for Richard DeVos, who died last week at age 92, the White House official said.

The meeting will be conducted privately to not distract or disrupt the visitation opportunity for the public, according to the White House. 

The public visitation for DeVos is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Amway Grand Plaza’s Ambassador Ballroom, family spokesman Nick Wasmiller said.

Pence said last week he was "saddened to hear of the passing of Richard DeVos, a towering figure in American business and conservative politics."

He added: "DeVos was a generous philanthropist and pillar of his community. His family and loved ones are in my prayers. He will be missed."

DeVos, the co-founder of Amway, was a major financial contributor to the Republican Party. 

Former Vice President Joe Biden will also be in Michigan on Wednesday, raising money for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gretchen Whitmer in Bloomfield Hills, according to her campaign. 

This will be Pence's eighth visit to Michigan as vice president in less than two years. 

He was in West Bloomfield Township on Aug. 29 for a fundraiser for U.S. Senate candidate John James, which was at least his third fundraising event in Michigan this election cycle.

At that time, Pence attacked U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, for opposing the Trump agenda of lowering taxes, supporting conservative justices and opposing abortion.

Pence also spoke at a March fundraiser in Detroit for GOP U.S. House members, including Rep. Mike Bishop of Rochester, and a June fundraiser for Michigan Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Schuette.

Jonathan Oosting contributed

mburke@detroitnews.com