Charles Rakers

1939 - 2014

Charles Rakers

Charles G. Rakers, 75, of Aviston, Ill., born July 5, 1939, in Aviston, died Tuesday, July 29, 2014, at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Mo.

Mr. Rakers worked for Markus Cabinet in Aviston, then worked 38 years for Aviston Lumber in Aviston before retiring from Centralia Correctional Facility as a central management services garage foreman. He was a veteran of the United States Army Reserves, a member of St. Francis Parish, a retired member of the Aviston Fire Department, a former Village of Aviston Board Member from 1983 to 1989, the former mayor of the Village of Aviston from 1989 to 2009, a current member of the Clinton County Board, and a member and former chairman of the Clinton County Republican Central Committee. Charles loved being at his clubhouse, "Rakers Acres".

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores, nee Imming, Rakers, whom he married on June 5, 1962, in Aviston and who died Nov. 1, 2003; his parents, Bernard and Gertrude, nee Hellmann, Rakers, Sr.; three brothers, Ben, Tony, and Al Rakers; two sisters, Annie Kalmer and Mary "Sally" Haselhorst; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Clara Rakers, Leona Rakers, Vincent Kalmer, Rita Rakers, Vic Kalmer, Robert Haselhorst, Vince Langenhorst, David Heimann, Walter Toennies, Arleen Lochridge, Marilyn Kuhl, and Marge Kerkemeyer.

Surviving are his two sons, Gary (Kathleen) Rakers and Michael (Kimberly) Rakers all of Aviston, Ill.; five grandchildren, April (Jason) Kohnen, Amanda (David) Erlinger, Jessica Rakers, Jacob Rakers and Ben Rakers; two great-grandchildren, Sarah and Meagan Kohnen; a brother, Jim (Marilyn) Rakers of Aviston; four sisters, Rita Kalmer of Damiansville, Delores Langenhorst of Beaver Prairie, Johanna Heimann of Fairview Heights, and Julie Toennies of New Baden; and brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert Lochridge of Belleville, Matthew Kuhl of Carlyle, Paul Kerkemeyer of Belleville, and Ruth and Raymond Blumenstein of Houston, Texas; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Memorials may be made to Central High School Football and Track or to the donor's choice and will be received at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hempenfuneralhome.com

Visitation: Friends may call from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 31, 2014, and from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, 2014, at Hempen Funeral Home in Aviston, Ill. There will be a prayer service at 3:30 p.m. and the fire department will visit the funeral home at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Funeral: Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, 2014, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Aviston, Ill., with Rev. Dan Friedman officiating. Burial will follow at St. Francis Cemetery in Aviston, Ill.

HEMPEN-NORDIKE FUNERAL HOME, Aviston, Ill.