Former Minnesota Democratic Congressman Rick Nolan has passed away at the age of 80

Former Minnesota Congressman Rick Nolan has passed away at the age of 80.

The Democratic Brainard native served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1969-1973, then as a congressman from 1975-1981. Then, after a 32-year hiatus, Nolan returned in 2012 to win the 8th Congressional District which serves northeastern Minnesota.

Nolan's 32-year gap between terms in Congress is the second-longest such break in service (after Philip Francis Thomas's 34-year gap from 1841–1875) in American political history.

Speaking on WCCO's Adam and Jordana show Friday morning, current U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (DFL) provided some insight into what type of person Nolan was.

"He went from being one of the youngest members of Congress when he was first elected in the seventies, and then he came back again  and was sworn in at age 69 as the oldest member of his freshman class," recalls Klobuchar. "And he just had this thunderous voice and this passion for the work and we're going to miss him."

Klobuchar just concluded her tour of all 87 counties in the state.

The Nolan family has not made public a cause of death, or the actual date he passed away.

In a statement , Minnesota DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin says:

“Rick Nolan was a champion for the Northland who fought fiercely to protect working people from corporate interests. From Ely to Duluth, he was an ambassador for the DFL creed that ‘we all do better when we all do better.’ Our thoughts are with his family and all who came to know and love this dedicated public servant.”