Mark Weber – Father, Soldier, Author – Dies At 41

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Minnesota soldier, who wrote a book to his three sons while battling cancer, has died.

Lt. Col. Mark Weber passed away Thursday, surrounded by family. He was 41.

According to his CaringBridge page, he died at 4:14 p.m.

"Mark's wish to die at home, embraced by love, and a view of his beloved garden was granted to him," a journal post said.

In 2010, at the height of his military career, Weber was diagnosed with cancer and given months to live.

In response, he wrote and self-published a book, "Tell My Sons: A Father's Last Letters." It sold 10,000 copies in three months.

Random House Publishing has since picked up the book, which came out in bookstores earlier this month.

"I didn't write this to be an anchor for my boys to carry around their necks for the rest of their lives," Weber told WCCO. "I wrote this as something to be inspired by."

Weber served 18 years in the U.S. Army. In August 2012, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, awarded Weber the Legion of Merit medal.

Weber served under Dempsey in Iraq, and it was Dempsey who appointed Weber as the military assistant to the Iraqi Chief of Defense.

Weber is slated to appear on the cover of Parade Magazine for Father's Day – the most widely read magazine in the United States.

This last Memorial Day, Weber spoke in front of thousands at Fort Snelling Cemetery.

Funeral details will be made public in the coming days.

Earlier this month, Weber spoke with Esme Murphy about his book on WCCO Sunday Morning. Watch the clip below.