"There was a gas odor and all the cattle were lying in the barn, dead."

Now, the family of a Ridgeland farmer found dead in his barn reacts.

A medical examiner confirmed the death of a Dunn County farmer was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

We now know the victim is 77-year-old Verlyn Schleusner, a bachelor who farmed 80 acres in northern Dunn County all his life.

He was found dead, along with 25 of his cattle and his dog. His cousin, who farms down the road, found him.

He says he the tractor's running switch was on and the gas tank was empty.

"I went by the house and it didn't look like he was there, so I went to the barn and when I opened the door I knew something was really seriously a problem," says Randy Schleusner.

Randy said his cousin died doing what he loved, taking care of his herd and making sure they got inside on a cold night.