A Minnesota family is grieving a devoted Vikings fan and talking about the lives he saved.

More than 2,300 Minnesotans are waiting for a life-saving transplant. When Steven Clarkin died unexpectedly in March, LifeSource said his organs saved the lives of four people.

Clarkin was 35. His family described him as a beloved brother, son and father.

“He was everything as far as a superhero goes in my life,” his brother, Jason Clarkin, said to WCCO.

“Playing with Barbies and dress-up and whatever they wanted really. He would do it. Just an all-around great guy,” his partner Courtney Miller said.

Clarkin died from a brain aneurysm. His family said learning he was an organ donor made an already painful time harder.

“In the very beginning, I did everything in my power to reverse that,” Jason Clarkin said.

“We were thinking, in our minds, he wouldn’t be whole,” Miller said.

The family said a meeting with LifeSource changed how they saw it. The non-profit shared stories of people whose lives had been saved through organ donation.

“It really helped ease our minds and think of it as less of a detriment and more of a gift that he could give someone,” Miller said.

Before he died, Clarkin received an honor walk at the hospital. His family and hospital workers also performed a “Skol” chant.

Clarkin spent countless Sundays cheering for the Vikings with his family.

“Living in the moment, you don’t know how special something can be until you look back on it,” Jason Clarkin said. “If he drew it up in his own mind, that’s exactly how he would want to go out.”

One of the recipients was a 6-year-old who received part of Clarkin’s heart, according to LifeSource.

“Steven is a trailblazer. There have only been 70 organ donors in the country that have contributed to this novel, new procedure called a partial heart transplant,” Jason Villar of LifeSource said.

LifeSource said the procedure takes the place of a full heart transplant and cuts down on the number of procedures a child has to go through.

“When he passed away, I have his heartbeat here and I have his fingerprint here as well,” Jason Clarkin said while pointing to new tattoos.

Sitting in the family’s Vikings room, Jason Clarkin said watching the team will not be the same without his brother.

“It hurts the heart knowing I’m not going to get that again,” he said.

Jason Clarkin said his views on organ donation have changed.

“He’s giving life to someone who may be able to have that chance to do something they love,” he said. “Given this whole situation, I have now checked donor on my license.”

Clarkin’s family said knowing his heart went to a child has helped ease their pain. After hearing about his life, the Vikings sent a care package to the family and invited them to a game this fall.

Read more from WCCO.