Obituaries

Rick and Sallie Willing from Carol Stream, IL

"Sallie and I are saddened to learn of your dad's passing. He was a great gentleman and mentor to me growing up. May God's peace surround you each and every day."

Carol J. Robbins from St Charles, IL

"Dear Brian and Kip, We are extending to you our sympathies on the death of your father. Numerous soccer games were attended by us when your dad was Aaron's coach. We have many treasured memories of you all throughout the years. Rest in peace, Darryl."

Don Kramer from Geneva, IL

"A Saint Charles icon as a police officer. A great family man with a delightful personality. Darryl could get along with anyone, but really liked his law enforcement brotherhood. He will be greatly missed."

Don Shaw from Crystal Lake, IL

"Darryl was the consummate police officer and command officer with the St. Charles Police Department. My sincere sympathy goes out to his family."

Jane and Gene Roush from Stone Lake, WI

"We send our deepest sympathies to the Rogers family. You are in our thoughts and prayers."

Lindy and Paul Dolyny from Fort Frances , MN

"Once in a lifetime you get to meet a man of integrity. He was not only a friend but family. Sending our condolences and sympathy to family and all whose life he touched. You are deeply missed, love from Canada!"

Dan Klinkhamer from St. Charles, IL

"At 21 I joined the St. Charles Police Department and began my career in Law Enforcement. I worked with and was trained by names such as Bogolin, Laughlin and Stokes. They set me on my path to my career. At the ripe old age of 22, I made detective and began my journey with Sgt. Darryl Rogers.It was in this role he would teach me service, sacrifice, honor and commitment to my beliefs. I probably knew about these words coming from a law enforcement family and my father who instilled them in my at an early age. But Darryl Rogers taught me how to investigate crimes, how to doggedly pursue leads and how to have empathy for victims and people that the police encounter over their careers. As he explained to me it was us who would speak for the victims in their time of need.I vividly recall working an infant death on Walnut Drive and being called out in the middle of the night I wasn't too excited at the prospect of having to work. It was that night that Darryl Rogers said to me," If we don't speak for Baby Bradshaw, then who will?" He was referring to the baby death we were investigating. Those words have resonated with me for fifty years since that night.He demanded excellence of me and eventually I produced it. He always ignited my competitive spirit and always urged me to knock on one more door or talk to one more person that might provide a lead to provide us with additional information to solve a case. No case was too difficult and no hill was to steep to climb in our investigations.Another case I recall was one of a violent sexual assault which happened to a young lady who picked up an individual in one of our downtown bars. The offender assaulted her badly in her car and during the brutal assault he dropped a pair of eyeglasses. We found them in her and and determined they were of a certain industrial brand that was made for the Illinois penitentiary system . This was the only clue left behind other than a vague description of the offender. I was a detective sergeant then and assigned two detectives to travel downstate to Menard Correctional Facility to follow the eyeglasses lead. The detectives got down there and called me to tell me there were roughly 10,000 possibilities in the different penitentiaries. II told them to call me when they found the offender. Knowing that Darryl would grill me on it this was the only response I could give them. After countless hours of searching they found the prescription and the inmate the classes were made for. We eventually tracked the suspect down after the had spent the last two decades in prison and had been paroled to St. Charles. That case never would have been solved if not for Darryl Rogers and the work ethic he instilled in his subordinates.I often say I am where I am at today because of those who helped me along the way. Darryl Rogers is one of those people I am referring to when I say that. He was my mentor and my hero; and I will never forget the sacrifices he made for me and our community. It is with much respect and fond memories that I send the Vietnam veteran off with a slow salute. He was a great man and I am a better man for having known him like I did. My thoughts are with his family at this time and I hope they can find peace with his passing knowing the great human he was. The world will be a lesser place without him in it.Dan Klinkhamer Cmdr. (Ret) St. Charles Police"

Larry Stanley from Indian Wells , CA

"We knew Darryl as little red, lived next door to him since Jr High School days and were friends until they left Sioux Falls for St Charles. Great family, he had good roots…. always good to talk to him and Karen over the years to keep up on family happenings and careers! I was blessed to have shared our developmental days with Darryl!"