Obituary: Roger Joseph Tillman Sr.

Roger Joseph Tillman Sr., 88, of Kettle River, Minnesota, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on July 23, in Moose Lake, Minnesota at the Moose Lake Village Nursing Home.

Roger was born in Cloquet, Minnesota to Joe and Ellen Tillman on April 18, 1936. He went to McGregor High School and graduated in 1954. After graduation he served two years in the United States Marine Corps.

He worked in road construction most of his adult life. Working for EW Coons, Ulland Brothers, Arrowhead Blacktop and Glacier Paving and started his own R.J. Tillman Trucking Business.

In his free time, he enjoyed snowmobiling and made several trips to Yellowstone National Park with friends and family. He had a giant raspberry patch and loved his garden and flowers. He loved going to polka dances his whole life, until his late 80s. He was the proud creator of Frosty the mammoth snowman that could be seen on Highway 73, when temperatures and snowfall allowed. He was very proud of his two granddaughters and liked to tell everyone that one is a surgeon at Marshfield Clinic and the other is a pediatric RN at the Mayo Clinic.

He proudly served for almost 40 years with the Kettle River Volunteer Fire Department. Fifteen of those years was as Fire Chief, and in the winter he would flood the ice skating rink in town. He was also a founding member of the Kettle River Snowmobile Club.

Roger is survived by his daughter, Debbie Tillman (Patty Prevost); son, Roger (Sue) Tillman; granddaughters, Rachel Tillman and Katie Tillman; brother, Richard (Nancy) Tillman; sister, Karen Tillman Luer; many nieces, nephews, and a large extended family; and his special friend, Lucy.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Ellen Tillman; and siblings, Lawrence Tillman, Jack (Avis) Tillman, Jane Tillman Hutar, and Rodney (Grace) Tillman.

A private family service with military honors will be held at a later date.