Millard R. “Red” Rakestraw, formerly of McHenry, Ill., died Monday, February 13, 2017, in Stanford, KY.
He was born January 25, 1929, in Mineral, Ill., to Millard F and Minnie Rakestraw. He married Ruth A. Lamer on February 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 Rakestraw; a son, Michael Rakestraw of McHenry, Ill.; two daughters, Peggy (Paul) Waldoch of Stanford and Patricia Schmidtgall of Woodstock, Ill.; seven grandchildren, Michael (Kelsey), Paul and Luke Rakestraw, Melissa (Kyle) Snelten, Nicole Waldoch, Rebecca (Steve) Smith and Lisa (Jerald) Donegan; 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; 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 was held on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. www.clarklegacycenter.com