Richard Louis Rakers — Duker & Haugh

Richard Louis Rakers, age 88, of Quincy, IL went to his heavenly home on April 18 in Blessing Hospital. He was born February 27, 1937, in Quincy. IL. He was the son of Louis and Catherine (Howe) Rakers. He married Alice Marie Beckman April 8, 1961, in St Francis Church.

Rich was a 1955 graduate from Quincy Notre Dame where he played football and baseball. He always loved watching the University of Notre Dame play football and the St Louis Cardinals baseball games. Rich joined the Illinois National Guard and served for six years. His first place of employment was with Artcraft in Quincy where he worked for three years.

Rich was a Sheet Metal worker for 35 years and was a member of Local 91 in Rock Island and a member of Local 36 in St Louis. He enjoyed telling stories to his 10 grandchildren about his work for two months in Nigeria, West Africa for Harris Corporation through Stroot Heating and Air Conditioning. In 1981, after attending the Advanced Instructors Program at Ohio State University, he was the Sheet Metal apprentice instructor for 17 years for the southern area of Local 91 retiring in 1993. He then worked for Quincy Public Schools as a custodian for 8 years at Quincy Junior High. He retired in 2001.

He was a member of St Dominic and St Anthony Parishes where he served as Sacristan, Eucharistic Minister, Usher and Rosary Leader. It was also an honor to serve the Tuesday morning Mass. Rich was Scoutmaster for St Dominic Troop 76 for five years. He was a 50-year member of the Knights of Columbus #583. Rich and Alice were charter members of the Musselman Audubon Society. They enjoyed birding and through their travels had seen over 500 species in Costa Rica, Belize, and throughout the United States. They participated in many bird counts which he enjoyed. Working in their yard with a variety of flower beds was a source of enjoyment and pride

He was interested in helping the less fortunate which led him to take two trips to Jeremie, Haiti where he used his skills helping the religious Sisters on building repairs. He also gave many programs on Haiti at the grade schools in Quincy. His older grandchildren got him interested in making Mission Rosaries and he sent thousands of rosaries to the Mission Office in Springfield. This was also a project he headed with the 3rd and 4th graders. In 2003 he and Alice took part in the Belize Children’s Project hosting Jerek, an 8-year-old boy for 6 months while he had treatment at Shriner’s Hospital in St. Louis.

Rich is survived by his wife, Alice, three children Gregory (Karen) Rakers of Millstadt, IL, Anne (Jeff) Meyer and Sharon (Scott) Jones of Quincy.
Ten grandchildren Kendra (Bennett) Hartmann of Iowa, Kole Rakers and his fiancé Sam of Wisconsin and Kaleb Rakers of Millstadt, Makenzie (Brad) Holtmeyer, Breanne, Jordan, Keiley. and Grace Meyer of Quincy, Logan Jones of Quincy and Devin Jones of Colorado.
Six great-grandchildren: Meredith, Charlotte, Lincoln and Madelyn Holtmeyer, Addison Hartmann and Thomas Altheide. Also, brothers Paul (Anita) Rakers and Jim (Pat) Rakers and sister Mary Humphrey and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son Patrick sister-in-law Judy Rakers and brother-in-law Howard Humphrey.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, April 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church by Rev. Tom Donovan. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be at Duker & Haugh Funeral Home on Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Friday morning from 9:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Memorials may be made to St Anthony Church, St. Dominic School or Quincy Notre Dame High School.