A family friend holds a photo of Shaun Fyfe and his wife, Denise, outside Fyfe's home in Tracy, Calif. Fyfe, 40, died of natural causes in Iraq. Associated Press

Fyfe, who lived in Tracy, Calif., died of unspecified natural causes and not because of any violence, according to Glenn Sweatt, a spokesman for Environmental Chemical Corporation International.

Fyfe left for Iraq on May 9 after signing a 180-day contract and was working for the company on various construction projects, including rebuilding schools, the spokesman said.

Allen, whose son was coached by Fyfe in Little league and is friends with his wife, Denise, said he often flew a Hawai'i state flag outside his home and was proud of his Hawaiian background.

"We had an annual lu'au every year and Shaun loved to do the pork. He got the rock salt and ti leaves, and he was always proud to do that part of the lu'au for us," Allen said. "He had a lot of strong ties to the Hawaiian culture."

The Tri-Valley Herald quoted Fyfe, a Tracy High School sports coach and construction worker, as saying he was offered a "life-changing amount of money" to go to Iraq, but also went as a service to the Iraqi people.

He has a 17-year-old son and daughter who is 19, Allen said. Family members could not be reached for comment. Fyfe's body was transported to Delaware for an autopsy, Allen said.