- Visitation
Friday, October 19, 2007
10 – 11 am
First Baptist Church in Highland, IL
- Service
11:00 am
First Baptist Church, Highland, IL
- Full Obituary
Maurice G. Rakers, 68, of Highland, IL died on October 16th at his home.
He was born March 30, 1939 in Aviston, the son of Bertha (Huelsmann) and Frank Rakers. He married Susan (Dickirson) Hager on September 20, 1982. He was raised on a dairy farm and attended school in Aviston.
Maurice served three years in the U.S. Army Combat Engineers in Guam. He worked as a mechanic at Lombardo’s Service Station for many years. He was also a veterinarian assistant in the Lebanon area. Before retiring, he trained and owned harness horses and was a member of the U.S. Trotting Association. Maurice trained his horses at the Bond County Fair Grounds and raced at Balmoral and Fairmont Parks. He enjoyed participating at the area County Fair harness races.
Survivors include his wife and three daughters, Diane (Peter Coppens) Rakers of Highland, Donna (Brent) Wood of Lebanon, Denise (William) Foppe of Breese; one step-son, Marc (Darlene) Hager of Port Charlotte, FL; seven grandchildren, Blake and Jenna Wood of Lebanon, Emily, Nicholas, Lucas, and Katherine Foppe of Breese and Michelle Hager of Breese, IL; six brothers, Albert (Sylvia) Rakers of Trenton, Jerry (Dolly) Rakers of O’Fallon, Carl (Joan) Rakers of Jamestown, Robert (Jane) Rakers of Carlyle, Dennis Rakers of Carlyle, and Virgil (Beverly) Rakers of Bowling Green, KY; four sisters, Jean Mueller and Ruth Gerstner both of Trenton, Betty (Leonard) Voss of Beaver Prairie, and Mary (Larry) Howell of Mount Vernon; brothers-in-law, Gary (Laurel) Dickirson of Spring field, IL, Stan (friend Van) Dickirson of Springfield, and sister-in-law Janet (Mike) Appleget of Bloomington, IN. He also leaves behind fifty-three nieces and nephews that he enjoyed spending time with.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws Barney & Edith Dickerson; a brother, Marcel; two nephews Eugene and Donnie Rakers; and three brothers-in-law, Donald Mueller, Robert Gerstner and Jim Hollenkamp.
A Memorial visitation is scheduled for Friday, October 19, 2007, from 10 – 11 am at First Baptist Church in Highland, IL. A Memorial service will follow at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church, Highland, IL.
Memorials in his honor may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL
