Rakers, Fred

Fred G. Rakers, 68 & lifetime resident of Aviston, IL, passed away at home surrounded by family on Wednesday, November 6th after a 3 month battle with cancer. Tremendous support by the entire community enabled Fred to witness the impact he had on people’s lives. Fred graduated from Mater Dei in 1963 & received his master’s degree from SIUE. During his 45 years as a faculty member at Mater Dei High School, Fred showed his dedication beyond the classroom by coaching the volleyball program for its first 35 years, coaching the softball team for its first 5 years as well as driving the bus for both teams. He kept the scorebook and drove the bus for the boys’ basketball team for 41 years. He announced for the football team, sold ads. for the Christmas Tournament, attended Fathers and Friends meetings, assisted with the Annual Fund Drive, sold Mater Dei calendars to everyone he knew, attended class reunions, and worked & played in golf tournaments. Everyone will miss those daily interactions and special talks that were shared with Fred on a regular basis, as he was easy to talk to and a true disciple. All who knew Fred would consider him a teacher, coach, advisor, colleague, ambassador or friend. He greeted everyone with a smile. Fred was a walking billboard for Mater Dei, wearing Mater Dei shirts wherever he went. He visited students who were in the hospital or brought homework to students that were homebound. Always interested in what was best for the students and giving them all of the credit, since he was “only the bus driver.” He enjoyed being on the go and watching sports as a fan of everything St. Louis: the Cardinals, Blues, & Rams, as well as local M.D. games & grade school volleyball matches throughout Clinton County. After stepping down as head coach of the M.D. program following the 2010 season, Fred continued to coach for Club Crush & assisted with volleyball camps. He loved being around people and would do anything for anybody. Mr. Rakers was a veteran of the United States Air Force Reserves and was also a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Aviston, where he was a Eucharistic minister, reader and member of the choir. Fred was instrumental in starting and coaching many sports for kids in Aviston, especially the girls basketball & soccer leagues. As a volunteer at St. Joseph’s hospital, he administered communion. Fred was involved in Marriage Encounter, TEC, and Quest programs of the Diocese. Fred was a Sir Knight of the 4th degree, a member of the Bishop Althoff assembly, & a member of the Aviston Knights of Columbus and former Grand Knight, not to mention a past commander & current chaplain of the Aviston American Legion Post 1239 and a Jaycee member. Fred also pitched horseshoes for Lantern Inn & the KCs, and played in multiple softball leagues. Fred dearly loved his wife and family. In 1970 Fred married Rosie Schaefer. He had three children, Jennifer (Brad) Calloway of Inman, SC, Chad Rakers of Aviston, and Erin (Andy) Crawford of Galesburg. He had six grandchildren, Joel, Nathan, and Jenna Calloway, and Noah, Lucia and Cecilia Crawford. He loved to visit his kids & grandkids whenever he could. He was the youngest brother of Vernon (Barb) Rakers and David (Carol) Rakers all of Highland; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Tony Habrock of Belleville, Ed & Phyllis Schaefer of Waterloo, and Bev Meyer of Collinsville; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred J. & Gertrude (Grapperhaus) Rakers; his father and mother-in-law, Charles & Helen Schaefer; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Habrock. The visitation will be held Sunday, November 10th from 1 pm to 5 pm in the main gym at Mater Dei Catholic High School, Breese, IL and from 9 am until 10:30 am on Monday, November 11th. The American Legion will visit at 4 pm Sunday. Funeral services with full military honors will be at 11 am on Monday, November 11th in the main gym at Mater Dei Catholic High School with Bishop Stanley Schlarmann, Fr. Dan Friedman, & Fr. Chuck Tuttle officiating. Luncheon following at the KC Hall in Breese. In lieu of flowers, plants and other gifts, memorials may be made to the Mater Dei Volleyball Program and will be received at Mater Dei or Hempen Funeral Home, 301 S. Clinton, Aviston, IL 62216 who is in charge of arrangements.