Rev. Dennis Christian Conway
January 8, 1991 ~ November 26, 2024
Fr. Dennis Conway, 33, beloved priest and pastor, son, brother, uncle, and godfather died unexpectedly on November 26, 2024, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque on May 27, 2017, by Archbishop Michael Jackels, Fr. Dennis served as associate pastor at the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, and the parishes of St. Joseph in Earlville, St. Boniface in New Vienna, SS. Peter and Paul in Petersburg, and St. Paul in Worthington from 2017-2019. In July 2019, he was assigned to serve as pastor of the parishes of St. Michael in Belle Plaine, St. Joseph in Chelsea, and St. Patrick in Tama. In March 2021, Fr. Dennis became the pastor of Immaculate Conception and St. Wenceslaus parishes in Cedar Rapids where he served until his untimely death. He loved his family, friends, the Church, and his people. Above all, he loved his Lord.
Fr. Dennis was born on January 8, 1991, in Huntsville, Alabama. He is the oldest child of Brian and Christina (Richards) Conway. After relocating with his family to Cedar Rapids in 1997, Fr. Dennis attended All Saints and Regis Middle schools, and graduated from Xavier High School in 2009. He attended Marquette University where he began discerning his call to the priesthood during his freshman year. He transferred to Loras College in 2010, and graduated in May 2012. After a pastoral year assignment at St. Henry Parish in Marshalltown, Fr. Dennis was assigned to the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Italy for his priestly formation studies.
Fr. Dennis was a fan of the Arts, especially music and drama. During his tenure at Xavier High School, he led the sound and lights crew for the theater and was a member of the Speech team. He was a talented pianist and loved to travel. Fr. Dennis had a gift for languages, enjoyed snow skiing and scuba diving, and collected fountain pens. He had a passion for spending time with friends, good coffee, and was a foodie.
Fr. Dennis is survived by his parents, sister, Aileen (Josh) Havel, and his two nephews, Hayes and Rhodes. He is also survived by his grandparents, Kevin and Marjorie (O'Neill) Conway and Lawrence Richards Jr., and a large extended family.
Fr. Dennis was preceded in death by grandmother, Gerry Richards and aunt, Kristen (Kliesner) Richards.
There will be a visitation on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at All Saints Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at All Saints Catholic Church with a one-hour visitation preceding. Luncheon will follow the Mass in the All Saints Parish Hall. Private interment will take place at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Dubuque, Iowa. Arrangements are with Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids.
In lieu of flower memorials, donations may be directed to the Xavier Catholic Schools Foundation, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services – Cedar Rapids
Brian, Chris, Alieen and family,
We are so saddened to hear of the loss of Fr. Dennis. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. We have such fond memories of Dennis from All Saints Parish and School, Regis Middle School, and Xavier High School. He was such an intelligent, talented and dedicated young man. Our hearts are heavy with grief. We send you our love and hugs. Scott & Jeani Murtha & family
Brian, Chrissy and Aileen,We are so sorry we cannot be with you. We loved Dennis so very much and our hearts break for you. We love you very much.
So incredibly sorry for the loss of your son and brother. Deepest sympathy.
Keeping you all in our hearts and prayers. Love, Kevin, Kate, Maura, Dave, Michael and Alana.
I am extending my profound sympathy to the entire family of Father Dennis and to his fellow priest friends. I remember Father from the parish of Saint Francis Xavier. He was so friendly and always interested in what you might be doing with your life. Please know as you all walk in the valley of darkness, my thoughts and prayers are with you. It is such a crushing thought to think this good, dear man suffered from the harsh realities of mental illness. His pain no one can imagine and now may we find some peace in knowing he is reaping the rewards for the goodness he sowed on this earth. Rest in peace Father Conway. You were a blessing to our parish. Sincerely meant Miriam Eick.
In memory of Fr. Dennis Conway. We will always love you.
We are deeply sorry for your loss. Please know that our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. With heartfelt sympathy,
We are keeping your family in our prayers and sending you all lots of love during this difficult time.
Dear Brian, Chris, Aileen and family,
Our hearts are grieving with all of you and we are flooding heaven on your behalf. Our dear Lord is near to the broken hearted and there are so many!
I have a special memory a couple of summers ago when Fa Aaron and Fa Conway had a Sat mini retreat at IC. Jim and I attended and totally loved the day of hearing and sharing. It was truly a gift and these two priests were such a team, making it faith filled & fun filled day.
Our love and prayers,
Jim and Colleen Waldron
Dear Brian, Chris. Aileen and you extended family,
Steve, Emma and I send our deepest condolences at this sad time. You are all in our prayers. Erin Altheide
I’m in shock and very heartbroken Fr. Dennis Conway, used to be my spiritual director and confessor while I was a seminarian at Divine Word College in Epworth Iowa , I would go to St. Francis of Xavier basilica in Dyersville where I was involved in the catechesis and I would helped Fr. Dennis, in the mass and ask him for some advise while I was in seminary. Rest in peace Fr. Dennis, you will be greatly missed.🥲
Rest in peace Fr Conway
Jesus loves you
Sending my heartfelt prayers for Dennis, his family, and the community.
May God grant courage, peace and strength to all Fr. Dennis Conway’s family at this very difficult time and may His soul rest in eternal peace🙏
I remember Father Conway as a very nice man when he was a student at Xavier High School and during his time at IC and St. Wenc. My deepest sympathy to his parishioners and especially to his family.
I knew Fr. Dennis from Immaculate ConceptionParish and St. Wenceslas. I attended the Latin mass and loved his homilies. I am going to miss Father. May your soul rest in peace 🙏.
Father Conway welcomed our family with open arms when we began attending Immaculate Conception, and greatly impacted our faith lives. Our kids adored him, and he walked with us through several difficult losses, which brought us the gift of peace that seemed unattainable at the time. Our hearts are heavy with grief, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his family & brothers in priesthood. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him.
We love you, Father. ❤️
Fr. Conway baptized me at St. Wenceslaus in July 2024. I will always remember him and I will always be grateful for his role in receiving me into the Church.
Praying for the repose of Father Dennis Conway from Richard Monroe of the Rosary Crew.
I’m so sorry for your loss. The best memory I have is when he married me and my husband and he gave us the blessing. He was a very nice man always asking me how I was doing every Sunday at church.
Brian, Chris & Aileen my heart goes out to all of you, and to your entire family for the loss of Fr. Dennis. I know Dennis loved you all so very much. May his memory be a blessing. Sara Riley
As a brother priest in another part of the country it saddens me to learn about the tragic loss of Fr. Dennis. The life of a priest is not easy. Be assured of my prayers for Fr. Dennis, his family, and the entire community. God’s mercy is endless, and we have a loving and forgiving Heavenly Father.
Rest in peace Father Dennis. Pray for me. I will certainly pray for you.
He worked hard to be a good shepherd to parishioners at the Circle of Saints Cluster. May he rest in peace and to pray for all of us. Especially his family.
Im saddened for the loss of your son, brother, uncle & godfather. Peace be with you as Gods Spirit ministers to your hearts.
Rest in peace, Father Conway. You are loved by many.
I am so very sorry for your loss. As my father was in his final days Fr. Conway brought him great peace.
Our deepest condolences from the CRS Clergy Team to Fr. Conway’s family and parish community. Fr. Dennis was a seminary partner and Global Fellow with Catholic Relief Services for many years. He was dedicated to living out Catholic Social Teaching by inviting his communities into a deeper solidarity with our global family, especially those most vulnerable in our world. May he rest in peace.
Will pray for you and think of you often brother. Rest in Peace dear friend.
My condolences to the family, friends, and parishioners of Fr. Dennis Conway. While I didn’t know him personally, I was acquainted with another priest who took his own life at the age of 34. It is heartbreaking and devastating. I am sorry for your loss. It is difficult to make sense of these things. May a loving and merciful God wrap his arms around you. I am praying for him, you, and all priests.
My Dear Friends:
Grace and Peace!
We will not debate here, how he died; we will celebrate, how he lived!
Those of us, who are Catholics, understand that Statement, because, it embodies the spirit, of the Mass of the Resurrection!
This week, many Catholics, have questioned their faith, trust, and assurance, in Christ! I had spoken with many this week, including staff at Immaculate Conception, those fine people, searching for answers. In this world, there aren’t many, except this: we are all pilgrims upon this planet, and, as the Holy Father proclaimed in his latest Angelus, we are all on a journey! Father Conway, understood that all too well! He understood that all roads lead to God, even the one, he was on! Being a priest is a lonely road, and, as a priest, for over four decades, I well understand the loneliness, and, isolation! Some of us, are well equipped for that journey, Father Conway, was not! He had a brilliant, theological mind; if he was not a Roman, I would have been proud to appoint him to one of our Seminaries! How many parish priests quote accurately, from Vatican II, or the latest Encyclicals, from Pope Francis? His volume of theological compendiums was extraordinary; his ability, and passion, to recast Liturgy, and, Spirituality, into common terms, showed me a dedicated priest, with a heart of Charity! Certainly, Father Conway, could have better served in the formation of other young priests, like himself, but, through the Winds of Providence, he served in simple parish settings, with real people!
This week, I had the privilege, and, honor, of corresponding with so many, who knew him personally, who felt his charm, and, grace, also, visibly upset by his passing! When one is honored in death, as one is honored in life, you have lived a life well lived!
I am no longer a Roman; he was, but, I could honestly say, that would have made no difference! I could have called him, friend, and, brother!
In God’s Grace and Love,
Your Grace,
+Richard
The Metropolitan Archbishop Reverend Doctor Richard L. Sorrentino, OFM, TOR
You are in our thoughts and prayers. “Your memory will live on as the trees blossom and grow”.
I was deeply saddened to learn of Fr. Dennis’ tragic death. My heart goes out to his family, friends, and parishioners.
I did not know Fr. Dennis, being from the Diocese of Gaylord in Michigan, I am having a Mass prayed for him in our local parish of St. Ann, Cadillac MI. May his soul rest in peace and may he enjoy eternity in heaven with God, a Father who loves him deeply.
My deepest condolences to The Conway family- May Dennis rest in Eternal Peace
I have good memories of having Fr. Conway in class at Xavier. I once told him that every time I called him by name, I thought of the scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, where King Arthur encounters a peasant named Dennis. Fr. Conway had also seen the movie, and we shared a chuckle. Afterward, in reference to that scene, I called Fr. Conway “Old Man.” Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
-Coach Sullivan
We used to give $to father after Mass when we shook his hand.lWe also would give to the altar boys and thanked them for assisting father in Mass.Father was always thankful and I told him to get gas or buy dinner.He would smile.I loved that he went to our community h.s.and he was proud of that.(If you want…read the comment after the announcement of the diocese.You raised a fine.loving and holy man.I would thank him him for his holiness….
I feel like our Shepperd has moved to be with Jesus. It’s time for this sheep to have a true relationship with Christ now. Thanks for teaching me how Father. I’ll see you when I get there.
Scholastica
I only met Father Dennis one time very briefly but my heart goes out to him.. his family,friends and parishes.. My heart breaks for everyone. May God be with you all in this awful time.
In loving memory of Dennis, with gratitude for the memories of time spent with him.
Eternal rest grant unto him oh Lord, and let Perpetual light shine upon him. May he Rest in Peace. May all the souls of the faithfully departed to the mercy of God Rest in peace. Amen 🕯️
Chris, Brian, Aileen and family, with thoughts of peace and courage for you.
I can’t fathom your loss. I take comfort in the knowledge that he loved and was loved.
Dear Chris and family, I am deeply sorry for your loss. Sending prayers and strength.
Our hearts go out to you during this difficult time. We are sorry for the loss of Fr. Dennis. We are sending prayers, love, and strength to you all.