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Washington, DC (KROC AM News) -  First District Congressman Jim Hagedorn has died.

The two-term Republican who had represented southeast and south-central Minnesota had been battling kidney cancer and was being treated at Mayo Clinic.

He was 59.

"Jim loved our country and loved representing the people of southern Minnesota. Every moment of every day he lived his dream by serving others."

Hagedorn underwent surgery at Mayo in late 2020 to remove his cancerous kidney. He was diagnosed with advanced cancer in the organ two years earlier and began receiving treatment.

He announced last summer the cancer had returned.

His wife Jennifer Carnahan released this message on Facebook Friday morning:

It is with a broken heart, shattered spirit and overwhelming sadness I share my husband Congressman Jim Hagedorn passed away peacefully last night. Jim loved our country and loved representing the people of southern Minnesota. 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
Jim was a loving husband, son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, friend, brother-in-law, son-in-law, Vikings, Penguins and Twins fan and will be missed and remembered by many.
While nothing can accurately prepare you for the unimaginable pain, intense sorrow, suffocating grief and seemingly never-ending emptiness that engulfs the entire body, soul and spirit when your forever love passes away; at least we can smile knowing Jim is smiling from heaven encouraging us to keep chasing our dreams, loving unconditionally and fighting for the country.

Jim Hagedorn, I love you. I miss you. I feel empty without you. I will forever be holding your hand.

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