A man featured in a recent Inter Lake story has died as a result of complications from broken ribs sustained in a fall on the ice in November.

Chris Linden, 45, died Saturday night from a pulmonary embolism believed to have been caused when he broke three ribs.

On Monday, the Inter Lake ran a United Way story featuring Linden, who had cerebral palsy, talking about how Eagle Transit enabled him to get to his job at Lowe’s every day.

His mother, Gail Walashek, said her son was excited for the story to come out and had even gotten his hair cut for the photo.

While Linden had rapid, shallow breathing when Walashek last spoke to him Saturday morning, they both believed at the time that it was just due to his pain from the broken ribs.

When he didn’t respond to their phone calls, Walashek and Linden’s sister visited him Sunday morning. They found him in his pajamas on the couch in front of his television. Walashek said it is believed that he died painlessly in his sleep.

Despite the tragedy, Walashek said when friends came to console her and brought her copies of the story about her son, it was a blessing. She called it a “huge blessing” to get to see the big smile on his face in the photo.

“He was just a very bright shining star in this world,” Walashek said of her son. “He never ever complained about being disabled or wanting to be different, he just had a love for people and a love for life.”

Linden’s death was the second in the family this year. His stepfather Mike — Walashek’s husband of 40 years — died at age 64 early this year.

His death was also preceded by a fall in the snow, after which he complained of chest and neck pain.

A subsequent chest X-ray determined that he was in the advanced stages of mesothelioma. He died less than a month later.

“I just feel that he was in heaven waiting for Chris,” she said, later adding “We’re sad and we miss Chris and Mike, but we know that we will be with him.”

A memorial service for Linden is scheduled for 1 p.m. Dec. 27 in The Lab at Fresh Life Church, 128 First Ave. E.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.