Millard R. “Red” Rakestraw
Published 9:50 am Friday, February 17, 2017
Millard R. “Red” Rakestraw
1929-2017
Millard R. “Red” Rakestraw, formerly of McHenry, IL, died on Feb. 13, 2017 in Stanford, KY.
He was born Jan. 25, 1929 in Mineral, IL to Millard F and Minnie Rakestraw. He married Ruth A. Lamer on Feb. 10, 1951.
For 82 years he lived in various towns in Illinois, initially as a farmer, then as a mechanic. Farmers entering tractor pull competitions will remember Red as the mechanic to hire to get the most out of their tractors. He and his wife moved to Stanford, KY in July 2011.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Ruth; a son Michael Rakestraw of McHenry, IL; and two daughters, Peggy (Paul) Waldoch of Stanford, KY and Patricia Schmidtgall of Woodstock, IL. There are seven grandchildren, Michael (Kelsey), Paul and Luke Rakestraw, Melissa (Kyle) Snelten, Nicole Waldoch and Rebecca (Steve) Smith and Lisa (Jerald) Donegan. There are five great-grandchildren, Kaleb, JJ, Fiona, Jeremiah, Katie Marie and the much anticipated Cora Isabella Smith and Baby Rakestraw.
Red was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Donald and Dale; and two sisters, Katherine and Frances; and a son-in-law, Fred Schmidtgall.
He was a member of St. William Catholic Church in Lancaster, KY where a Mass of Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.
