Obituary: Roger Tillman

Roger Joseph Tillman Sr., 88, of Kettle River passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on July 23, 2024, in Moose Lake at the Moose Lake Village nursing home.

Roger was born in Cloquet to Joe and Ellen Tillman on April 18, 1936. He went to McGregor High School and graduated in 1954. He then served two years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He worked in road construction most of his adult life, at E.W. Coons, Ulland Brothers, Arrowhead Blacktop and Glacier Paving, before starting his own business, R.J. Tillman Trucking.

In his free time, Roger 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, well into his late 80s. He was the proud creator of Frosty, the mammoth snowman, which could be seen on Minnesota Highway 73 when temperatures and the 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 nurse at the Mayo Clinic.

He proudly served for almost 40 years with the Kettle River Volunteer Fire Department, 15 years as fire chief. 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.

Pine Knot News, Aug. 2, 2024