Jason Joseph Klotz

Jason Joseph Klotz, 44, of Houston, Texas passed away on August 25, 2026. Born October 16, 1981, in Houston, Jason was a big guy with an even bigger personality, and it was hard not to notice when he walked into a room. He had a larger-than-life presence and a way of connecting with people that made him memorable. Jason was competitive, generous, funny, and always ready with a joke or a story. Basketball was a major part of his life from an early age. He started playing in elementary school, moving on to AAU, and went on to become one of Houston’s standout players at Klein Forest High School, helping lead the Golden Eagles to the state championship game in 2000. He continued his career at the University of Texas (#21), where he was part of three consecutive Sweet 16 teams, including the 2003 team that reached the Final Four national championship. After college, Jason played professionally overseas for six years, with stops in China, Spain, Turkey, Holland, Uruguay, and Japan. After returning to Houston, Jason built a career in sales in the energy industry, eventually working his way into a sales management role. He brought that same personality to his work, connecting easily with people, building strong relationships, and bringing his quick sense of humor along the way. Jason was a true foodie. He always loved to cook, and more than that, he LOVED to eat. As a little boy, while most kids were watching cartoons, he was watching cooking shows on PBS. That interest stayed with him throughout his life and became something he shared with his children, teaching them to cook and introducing them to different cuisines. His basketball career gave him the opportunity to live, eat, and travel around the world, and he especially enjoyed the food scene in Osaka. He loved good food in all forms, from fine dining to a great taco truck, and he always had an opinion about where to find the best of it. Jason loved his children, Reagan, Vaughn, and Lana, deeply, and some of his favorite moments were simply doing things with them. He was always up for being active, whether riding bikes, taking rides on the Polaris, a trip to Typhoon Texas, cheering on Reagan at basketball, or watching Lana and Vaughn play soccer. While Jason took his family on adventures as far as Costa Rica and Mexico, some of the best trips were closer to home, from days in Galveston to time on the Frio River—a place where he had made memories with his own family as a child. Wherever they were, Jason found ways to make an ordinary day into something they would remember. In one final act of generosity, he gave the gift of life through organ donation, leaving a legacy of giving that will continue beyond his lifetime. Jason is survived by his children, Reagan, Vaughn, and Lana Klotz; Wendy Klotz, with whom he shared his children; his father, Norbert Klotz; his sister, Shelley Richard; his nephew and niece, Rowan and Ava Richard; a large extended family who loved him dearly; and countless friends who knew and loved Jason throughout the different chapters of his life. He was preceded in death by his mother, Terri Klotz, with whom he shared a deep bond. Although he will be sorely missed, we find comfort in knowing he is now with the Lord Jesus Christ and imagining Terri there to welcome him home. A Funeral Mass honoring Jason’s life will be held on Saturday, September 12, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 6622 Haskell St., Houston, TX 77007. A reception will follow from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Jason’s memory to make a donation to the American Heart Association or the Houston Food Bank in his name.

Jason Joseph Klotz

October 16, 1981 - August 25, 2026