Conrad F Hawkins

Conrad “Connie” F. Hawkins passed away peacefully on September, 25, 2026. Husband, father, Papa, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, mentor - he will be deeply missed.

On Thursday, Oct. 1st a memorial visitation from 12-2pm followed by a service at 2pm will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rockford IL. The family invites everyone to gather in the church fellowship hall immediately after the service for a casual, catered meal and time to share our laughter, tears, and memories of Connie.

He came into this world on December 29th, 1940 as a blessing to his parents Wayne M. and Margaret (Lewis) Hawkins. He was born and raised in Milledgeviille, IL where he is remembered by his large family and 1959 classmates as class president, student council president, and star football and basketball player. Notably, he succeeded in changing the team mascot from the Milledgeville MILLIES to the Milledgeville MISSILES during the early years of space exploration! He graduated from NIU with a dual math/chemistry major and later pursued graduate studies in psychology while simultaneously growing his young family. His first career path in food science advanced rapidly. Among other things, he invented the fluffy nougat center of the Three Musketeers Bar for M&M Mars and earned the 1972 Candy of the Year Award for his Bottle Caps candies and helped create the Willy Wonka line of candies for Sunline, Inc. The family moved and lived in a variety of locations, finally settling in Lake Geneva, WI. There he built a second career as owner of Hawkins Construction, serving local families with his expertise in remodeling and building.

After the death of his first wife Sandi (Ingraham) Hawkins in 1996, his subsequent years were happily spent in Rockford, IL with love and life companion Sandy Sjostrom as they laughed, traveled, and doted upon their kids, grands and great-grands. Over the last several years they grew together in their faith as active members of the Westminster Presbyterian Church family. As his health declined recently, Sandy gave all her love and time to serve him as caregiver and to lavish him with love in the way only she could do.

To define Connie’s life and unique traits in merely a few words is impossible. He left a trail of blessings everywhere he went. Chemist, mathematician, golfer, master craftsman, church deacon, musician, prankster, 45-year Lions Club member, poet, candy maker, chef, scholar of Indian American history and lore... he lived a full and enriching life. What he will be most remembered for is his deep love of family, faith and close personal connection with people. Always ready and willing to lend his broad shoulder and listening ear to all, his wisdom, kindness, wit, and Christlike attentiveness to the people he knew resulted in a legacy of admiration and appreciation by almost everyone who spent time with him. Truly, to know him was to love him, and we lift our hearts full of thanksgiving to God for his life here with us and his eternal life in Heaven!

Connie is survived by his wife, Sandra (DeMoss) Sjostrom; sister Susie [“Bernie”] Buckley and their daughter Loren [Randy] Crawford & their son James; daughters Lisa [Jim] Hatch and Amy [Michael] Newton; sons Darin Hawkins, Bill [Nancy] Heaton, Howie [Val] Heaton; grandsons Ryan [Alyssa] Bates, Sawyer and Beckett Newton, Liam Heaton; granddaughters Megan [Collin] Libassi, Katie and Molly Heaton, Rylee Kennington; and great-grandchildren Aidyn, Nixon, Ellie, Samuel and Eli. Greeting him in Heaven were his parents and late wife, as well as countless cherished extended family members and friends. What a glorious reunion!!!

Connie was a a man of great generosity, both philanthropically and with his loving spirit. For those who wish to make memorial donations, please consider directing those to Southwest (Indian) Reservation Aid, the American Cancer Society, the Lions Club in Williams Bay, WI or the charity that means the most to the giver.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages all to bless others with your love with intentional acts of kindness like Connie did and to spread your joy, humor (he loved to tell and listen to a good story) love and faith with your community and the world. He was exceptional at paying it forward and would love it if we did the same in his honor.