DENVER — A beloved figure at Colorado Rockies games, known as Captain Earthman, has died after entering hospice care in early July.
Earthman, also known as Brent Doeden to his close family members, died at the age of 60, surrounded by family members, including his wife Becky Scharfenberg.
MORE | Learn more about Earthman and how he gained his name.
Scharfenberg confirmed his death on Monday, saying "The mothership has come."
The ominous post to Facebook friends and other loved ones came as sad news, garnering hundreds of condolences in just minutes.
To Earthman's family, the death is sad, but not a surprise. Earthman was approaching the fourteenth month of a doctor's prediction saying he had up to 18 months to live.
Earthman battled terminal brain cancer, Stage 4 Glioblastoma. A growing tumor sat on his brain stem and another sat on his frontal lobe.
Family members had prepared for this eventual reality, but didn't waste a single moment. They took the former beer vendor to concerts and Rockies games in the months leading up to his death.
Shortly before his death, Scharfenberg told Denver7 she will always admire how her husband approached life.
"He would just hope that everyone will continue to make every situation a fun situation. Be happy, be kind to each other. If you happen to think somebody is off the wall, remember that Captain Earthman was off the wall and people would come to Rockies games just to see him."
Scharfenberg said she hopes others learn a lesson from Earthman's life, or at least remember how he lived each day.
"It's OK to buck the system a little bit, because sometimes you can make that your advantage and that can make you a better person," Scharfenberg said. "Don't be afraid to try things, don't be afraid to try a new hat or try a temporary tattoo, you might find that you like it and other people like it, too."
According to Scharfenberg, Earthman liked to say one day the mothership would return to earth and pick him back up. Earthman's words have come true, and now all his fans are left to wave farewell.
See a gallery of shots from the beloved beer vendor's life by tapping here.
