Roger Armitage

Roger Owen Armitage, age 69 of Port Byron, formerly of Morrison, IL, was called to his heavenly home on Saturday, July 3, 2021. Roger left behind a forty-eight-year career in the nuclear industry. He was one of the lucky ones, who enjoyed his career and felt he had a calling in this field. He started at the ComEd plant in Lasalle, IL, in 1973 and later transferred to the Cordova, IL, Exelon plant to be closer to his children. After 35 years between the two plants, he retired and developed his own nuclear consulting business, RTF Consulting, in which he successfully, and joyfully, assisted over thirty different nuclear power plants, throughout the United States, in improving performance at the department level as well as overall station performance. His passions were training, outage management and leadership mentoring. He was well respected and admired in the industry.

Roger was an avid member of the IWC (Iowa Whiskey Chasers) and PPTS (Pursuing Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches) Facebook groups. He was also a huge supporter, and member, of the USCCA. Roger was the rock of his family and loved them fiercely. He enjoyed numerous activities with all of them. He enjoyed motorcycle rides, church, dad jokes, hiking, sitting around the fire pit, reading and book discussions, teaching life skills, projects, working outdoors at his home, detailing his vehicles, attending ball games, and math puzzles. He was intelligent and witty and enjoyed problem solving and challenging others. Even in his death, he brought his immediate family closer together with the puzzles he left behind.

Roger is survived by his wife, and love of his life, Kelly DenHartog; his children, Kristy (Mike) Wagenecht, Daniel Armitage, Derek (Kyla) Harjes, Nate Harjes and Alexander DenHartog; his grandchildren, Peyton Emerson, Madilyn Armitage, Owen Armitage, Lillyan Harjes, Weston Harjes and Christian Harjes; his sisters, Sharon (Bob) Couch, Barb (Dennis) Downs and sister-in law, Margaret Armitage; several nieces, nephews and extended family; step-grandchildren, Megan Emerson, MacKenzie and Logan Petkus, and Dallas, Daultin, Thomas, Paul and James Wagenecht; and close family friends, Andy, Leslie and Lylah Harridge. He is proceeded in death by his parents, Wilson and Frances Armitage; a sister, Kathleen Armitage; and a brother, Milton Armitage.

A celebration of life will be planned, at a later date, for his family and closest friends.