Conrad Hengst

Conrad Hengst “Jerry Dawson” passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family and friends, on March 5th, 2025, after living a full and meaningful life of 83 years. He is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth Hengst, Sabrina Raffaelli, and Ashley Dawson; his stepdaughter, Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks; and his son, Robert Genty. He will also be deeply missed by his grandchildren, Mitchell and Cameron Polifka, Luciano, Joaquin, and Antonio Raffaelli-Hernandez, and Alexsia Hanks. Conrad is further survived by his siblings, Ken Hengst Jr., Kathie Frasier, and Richard Rouse, along with many extended family members and friends, all of whom will cherish his memory. Conrad was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rhonda Dawson; his mother, Leone Rouse; his father, Kenneth Hengst Sr.; and his brother, Al Hengst.

Conrad (Jerry) was a man of extraordinary character who touched countless lives with his love, humor, and generosity of spirit. As a devoted husband, father, and "grandpa, grandpa," he cherished creating lasting memories with his family—from cross-country road trips to playing chess and catch, watching the big games together, and visiting national parks and landmarks. A skilled and passionate carpenter, he poured his heart into every project, finding joy in seeing his work come to life and positively impact the people he cared for. He was also a dedicated mentor and leader in the recovery community, supporting countless friends in fellowship through their recovery journey.

Visitation Saturday, March 15th from 10AM-1PM at The Oaks Funeral Home, 1201 E Irving Park Road, Itasca (funeral processional to follow). Funeral Mass at The Center Church at 1:30PM, 400 N Walnut St, Itasca. For funeral info: 630-250-8588 or www.oaksfh.com. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to The Center Collective (communitycenter.life) or Food for the Soul Ministries (food4thesoul.org), in honor of Conrad’s lifelong commitment to helping others.