Minnesota Republican Representative Jim Hagedorn has died at age 59 following a multi-year battle with kidney cancer.

Hagedorn’s wife, Jennifer Carnahan, confirmed the news on Friday on Facebook.

“Jim loved our country and loved representing the people of southern Minnesota,” Carnahan, a former Minnesota Republican Party Chair wrote. “Every moment of every day he lived his dream by serving others. There was no stronger conservative in our state than my husband; and it showed in how he voted, led and fought for our country.”