Cancer claims longtime Geneva police officer

Geneva police officers are mourning the death of fellow officer Keith Koza.

Koza, 57, died Saturday of multiple myeloma cancer.

He was a full-time police officer for Geneva for 27 years and worked part-time for the department for eight years before that.

"He was, dare I say, a jovial spirit, always in a good mood," Mayor Kevin Burns said before calling for a moment of silence at Monday's city council meeting. "You've lost a true colleague and a friend of the community."

Koza grew up in Batavia, and later lived in Geneva.

Koza had many responsibilities during his career: truck enforcement officer, Officer-in-Charge, armorer, chairman of the Employee Advisory Committee, evidence technician/accident investigator, nonlethal weapons instructor, court liaison and master firearms instructor. 

Koza was also given the Departmental Certificate of Recognition for his efforts of drunken driving enforcement and the John Goodwin Top Gun Award in 1990 and 1997. 

He earned a certificate in criminal justice management from Aurora University.

Koza also was known for his interest in cooking. He earned a degree from the Culinary Institute of America. In the mid-1980s he owned a bakery, Konfectionary Kreations. In 2003 he started the catering company, Koza Kookin' Pig Roasts. Even while ill, he provided a pig roast lunch for the department's 2009 Special Olympics fundraiser.

Koza's wake is from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Malone Funeral Home, 324 E. State St., Geneva. Prayers will be said there at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 26, before proceeding to Holy Cross Catholic Church, 2300 Main St., Batavia, for a 10:30 a.m. Mass. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery on Fabyan Parkway in Geneva.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughter Katie Schluter; son Jeffrey Koza; sister Kim Voo; brother Mark Koza; and grandchildren Kathleen and James Showalter and Isabella Koza. He was preceded in death by his parents.