Shirley M. Rakestraw

Shirley M. Rakestraw, 80, of Mineral, IL, passed away Tuesday, May 16^th, 2017, at Hammond Henry Hospital. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, May 22^nd at 10:00 a.m at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Reverend Stephen Engelbrecht will officiate. Burial will follow at Evergreen Memory Gardens in Kewanee, IL. Visitation will be held from 2:00-5:00 p.m on Sunday, May 21st, at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory in Atkinson, IL. The Rosary will be recited at 1:30 p.m. Memorials may be left to the Shirley Rakestraw Memorial Fund.

Shirley was born November 8^th, 1936, the daughter of Alphonse Sierens and Helen L. Hoogerwerf, in Kewanee, IL. She attended Mineral High School and graduated in the class of 1954. She married Duane D. “Palsy” Rakestraw on September 25, 1954, in Kewanee. He passed away on April 30, 2016. Shirley was a waitress at the Sauk Trail Inn in Annawan for a few years. She and Palsy owned the Mineral Country Store.  Shirley loved to golf and was a member of golf leagues at Hidden Lake Country Club. She looked forward to golf and wine with her women’s leagues, and to beating Palsy at golf. Shirley and Palsy would take off after the “crops” were in and travel down south, hitting golf courses along the way. Many good times were had in Biloxi, Mississippi and Myrtle Beach. Shirley loved Christmas day, and always made it special for those she loved.  She enjoyed spending time tending to her flower garden and meeting her friends for coffee. Shirley was a proud member of the Altar and Rosary Society and Hidden Lake Golf League.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Deb Rakestraw of Naperville, IL, Duane (Linda) Rakestraw of Geneseo, IL, Denise Howell of Geneseo, IL, Dave (Kathy) Rakestraw of Annawan, IL, and Darrell (Regina) Rakestraw of Mineral, IL; grandchildren, Ryan Howell, Mandy (Brandon) Heller, Kerry (Shea) Jones, Ty (Melissa) Rakestraw, Dylan Rakestraw, Kelsey Rakestraw, Heath Rakestraw, Logan Rakestraw, and Elizabeth Rakestraw; step-grandchildren, Raquel Frankenreider, and Shannon Frankenreider; great-grandchildren, Liam James Heller, Piper Jamey Jones, Maddison Rakestraw, Kennedy Rakestraw, and Knox Rakestraw; step-great-grandchildren, Peyton Frankenreider, Baylor Frankenreider, and Charlie Frankenreider; brother, Kenny (Sara) Sierens of Annawan, IL, and sister-in-law, Joyce Geiger.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Alphonse and Helen, her husband, Duane “Palsy,” infant son, Duane “Danny” Rakestraw, granddaughter Jamey Howell, son-in-law, James P. Howell, and in-laws, Darrel “Fluff” and Hazel.

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