----Source: MARSHFIELD NEWS HERALD (Marshfield, Wis.) 04/25/2002

Rakestraw, Julius O. (9 AUG 1922 - 23 APR 2002)

NEILLSVILLE - Julius "Otto" Rakestraw, age 79, of Hatfield, died Tuesday, April 23, 2002, at the Clark County Health Care Center in Owen.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville. Pastor James Mohr of the United Church of Christ will officiate. Music will be provided by Eileen Zank, organist, and Jodi Rueth, soloist.

Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Neillsville Veterans Council.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home.

Julius Otto Rakestraw Jr. was born on Aug. 9, 1922, at Tuscaloosa, Ala., the son of Julius Otto Sr. and Sarah (Hicks) Rakestraw. Soon after his birth the family moved to Gadsden, Ala., where Otto was raised and attended school. In December of 1942, Otto entered the United States Army and served in North Africa, Sicily and Italy during World War II. He was discharged from the army in 1944 and in 1947 he moved to Chicago. While in Chicago he met Velma Lucille Bealmer. They were united in marriage on April 10, 1948. In January of 1950 they moved to Ipava, Ill., where they owned and operated their own gas station. In 1953, Otto began working for Russell Web, a local Allis Chalmers dealer in Ipava. In December of 1956 Otto and his family moved to a farm north of Neillsville. And from 1959 to 1984 he worked at the Nelson Muffler Factory in Neillsville. Soon after his retirement in 1984, Otto and Lucille moved to the Hatfield area.

Otto was a member of the Haugen-Richmond American Legion Post 73 in Neillsville. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and playing cards.

He is survived by his wife, Lucille four sons, Bruce (Margie) Rakestraw of Neillsville, David Rakestraw, Bill (Dawn) Rakestraw of Medford and Steve (Corada) Rakestraw of Wembley, Alberta, Canada one daughter, Patsy (Tony) Hanson of Neillsville 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren his mother, Sarah of Gadsden, Ala. and one sister, Gail (Euell) Brown of Gadsden.

Otto was preceded in death by his father, Julius two sisters, two brothers-in-law and a grandson.