Obit: Rakestraw, Diane M. (1956 - 2006)

Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Surnames: Rakestraw, Deberg, VanDyk, Jackson, Sukopp

----Sources: Thorp Courier (Thorp, WI) August 16, 2006

Rakestraw, Diane M. (February 25, 1956 - August 10, 2006)

Diane Rakestraw, age 50, of 33408 20th St. Boyd, WI passed away on August 10, 2006 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, WI after a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born on February 25, 1956 in Worthington, MN, the daughter of John and Delores (Deberg) VanDyk. As a young girl she moved with her family to Ocheyedan, Iowa, where they lived until the family moved to Chili, WI in 1963. There she attended Fremont School and graduated from Marshfield High School in 1974.

She married William Rakestraw and they later divorced. Diane lived in Thorp, WI where she worked at various jobs and was a bus driver for Thorp Area Schools for 21 years. In 1991 she moved to the Boyd area, where she has resided since.

She is survived by her very special friend Dennis Jackson of rural Boyd, WI; her four children: Dawn Rakestraw of Eau Claire, WI, Becky Rakestraw of Chippewa Falls, WI, Crystal Rakestraw of River Falls, WI, and Allen John Jackson at home; grandchildren: Austin, Johnathon, Ashlee and Hunter, her parents, John and Delores VanDyk of Chili, WI; plus many relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandson Jason Sukopp; her brother Jim VanDyk and grandparents.

Diane was a very dedicated mother, daughter and friend. Over the years she has been active in pool, horseshoes and bowling leagues. She enjoyed spending time at her children’s sporting events, fishing and camping. She was very active in church activities and worked with Boyd-Stanley Catholic Schools.

Funeral services were held on Monday, August 14, 2006 at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church in Stanley, WI with Father Robert Nelson officiating. Friends called on Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Plombon Funeral Home in Stanley, WI in which there was a parish Rosary recited at 7:30 Sunday evening. Interment was at 1:30 p.m. on Monday at Immanuel United Methodist Cemetery in Chili, WI. Plombon Funeral Service assisted the family with arrangements.