Danny Eldon Rakestraw

Danny Eldon Rakestraw, age 75, of Belle, MO. passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Danny was born on July 21, 1940, in Spring Lake, IL. He was the son of Allen Kinnie Rakestraw, Sr. and Olive Mae Beal Rakestraw.

Danny attended Pekin High School in Pekin, IL, leaving high school to serve his country in the United States Navy.
After a medical discharge he worked as a union laborer and soon joined the Carpenters union where he was a carpenter/millwright. He retired from Carpenters Local #2298 in Rolla and Carpenters Union Local # 945 in Jefferson City, MO.

On March 1, 1975, Danny married the love of his life, Brenda LeAnn Stough Rakestraw, who survives of the home. He is also survived by 3 sons, Robbie, Danny "Bo", and Ryan Rakestraw and wife Michelle all of Belle; 3 daughters, April Kinkead and husband Jeff of Pekin, IL, Cari Brown and husband Kevin and Lauri Nelson and husband Stephen all of Belle; 22 grandchildren, Bret Kinkead and wife Jessica, Presley Kinkead and boyfriend Blake McConkey, Travis Turnage and wife Stephanie, Emmalee Turnage, Cody Brown, Morgan Brown, Dalton Rakestraw, Jade Rakestraw, Chelsey Laster, Anjelica Walker, Chase Rakestraw, Rylee Rakestraw, Chandra Markert and fiancAC. Chad Hopkins, Caitlyn Wilson, Gracee Jo Mantle, Trislyn Webster, Tara Webster, Eldon Rakestraw, Shaye Rakestraw and Terance Rakestraw; 8 great grandchildren, Leila, Abbey and Kooper Kinkead, Jelisa Jackson, Joseph Walker, Arielle Turnage and Adelyn Hopkins; 1 brother Norman Rakestraw of Pekin, IL; 2 sisters, Vera Atkinson and husband Gary of Pekin, IL and Connie Galvin and husband James of Manito, IL; a brother-in-law Don Spencer of Manito, IL; a sister-in-law, Ann Rakestraw of Pasadena, TX, his father-in-law, Lee Stough of Belle and a brother-in-law Johnny Stough and wife Donna of Belle as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceding Danny in death were his parents, Allen, Sr. and Olive Rakestraw; 3 brothers, Allen Rakestraw, Jr. and his wife Helen of Manito, IL, Phillip Rakestraw and Clyde Rakestraw of Pasadena, TX; 1 sister, Mary Spence of Manito, IL; one daughter, Donnete Sue Heinhold Guth of Lawrenceville, Ga and his mother-in-law, Shirley Stough of Belle.

Danny loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved visiting his "Illinois Family". He was always joking, smiling, laughing and making others laugh. He never met a stranger. Danny was a father/grandfather figure to many. He loved life and loved his babies!

He enjoyed hunting and fishing, playing slow-pitch softball and bingo. Danny was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. He loved watching "his" team play. Win or lose, he stayed true to them all of his life.

Memorial Services will be held Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Belle. There will also be an additional Memorial Service in Pekin, IL. on Nov. 25. After the Illinois services Danny will be interred at the Community of Christ Cemetery in Linn, MO.