Batavia police officer lived to help others

Jason Kloese spent his life trying to help people.

Whether it was his personal or professional life, day or night, Kloese would do what he could for someone in need — and not because he felt like he had to, but because he wanted to.

The 33-year-old Batavia Police Department officer died Friday after a long battle with cancer, leaving his friends and family to remember all the things he did in his relatively short life.

Police Chief Gary Schira worked with Kloese during the last five of Kloese’s 10 years in the department. Schira awarded him the 2008 Chief’s Award for a trait that only got stronger since then: his ability to inspire.

Kloese was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in January 2009 and given six months to live. But he worked as much as he could with the department until May of this year.

“You could see the suffering he was going through and you’d never hear a complaint out of him,” Schira said. “It rubbed off on everybody. He really was a wonderful inspiration.”

Kloese, who was born and raised in Batavia, started with the department as a patrol officer, and most recently worked as a detective. He particularly enjoyed the work he did with the Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team. Schira said Kloese was one of relatively few officers in the state certified in accident reconstruction. It was a brilliant, analytical mind that allowed him to specialize in that field, Schira said.

Kloese met his future wife when they were teenagers in a church youth group. Amy Kloese said her husband always wanted to be a police officer. And it was a job he was good at because he loved it.

“He wanted to be part of something where it was making things a better place,” she said.

When he wasn’t working, Kloese enjoyed NASCAR racing, watching the Chicago Bears, annual guys-only ski trips and traveling with his wife. Amy Kloese said travel was originally her passion, but as the couple grew up together, his passions became hers and vice versa. They spent time all over Europe, and most recently celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in Hawaii. That was in March — more than two years after his original diagnosis.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Aug. 18 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1145 N. Fifth Ave., in St. Charles, followed by burial in West Batavia Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to H.E.L.P., an animal rescue organization.