Kilian died on 26 October 2005 from illness and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.
In addition to being a long-time correspondent for the Chicago Tribune in Washington, D.C., Kilian was an accomplished author of numerous books, including the Harrison Raines Civil War mysteries.
His father was instrumental in his education of the Civil War era and in visiting the many battlefield sites.
His family includes early settlers of Virginia and New York, and Union soldiers who died at Fredericksburg and fought at Gettysburg on Little Round Top.
One of their storylines involved Tess Trueheart serving Tracy with divorce papers.