Clyde Earl Rakestraw

Clyde Earl Rakestraw of Pasadena, Texas, formerly of Pekin, Illinois and Manito, Illinois was peacefully called home to our Lord on Tuesday, August 25, 2015. Clyde was born in Spring Lake Township, Tazewell County, Illinois on April 7, 1934 to Allen Kenny Rakestraw and Olive Mae Beal Rakestraw.Clyde grew up in Spring Lake, Manito, and Pekin. He proudly served our nation as a member of both the Army and Navy for over 10 years. Upon honorable discharge, he worked at Caterpillar for a number of years. In 1966, he married Tessie Ann Brown Bearden and had identical twin daughters, Ellen Joanne Rakestraw (Choppin) and Helen Jeanene Rakestraw (Ortiz), whom he loved very dearly. He left his position at Caterpillar in 1967 to pursue a career as a business owner.He was the owner of Rakestraw Builders in Pekin, the Sky Ranch Restaurant on the Manito Blacktop in Tazewell County, and the Blue Spruce in Manito. He moved his family to Houston, Texas in 1979 to pursue other opportunities.He was a manager for several restaurants and owner of several businesses in and around the Houston/Pasadena area. Clyde was an avid outdoorsman enjoying fishing and hunting.He was an automobile enthusiast and in later years enjoyed watching NASCAR. He was a lover of animals and children who commonly referred to himself as 'Nice Guy Clyde'. Clyde battled prostate cancer as well as the debilitation of Alzheimer's disease.He passed away peacefully at Manor Care Health Services in Webster, Texas. Clyde is survived by his wife, Tessie Ann; daughter, Joanne and husband Douglas Choppin, granddaughters Lauren Marie Choppin and Brooke Ann Choppin of Houston, Texas; daughter Jeanene and husband Robert J. Ortiz of Pasadena, Texas; brother Norman Rakestraw of Pekin, Illinois; brother Danny E. and wife Brenda Rakestraw of Belle, Missouri; sister Vera and husband, Gary Atkinson of Pekin, Illinois; sister Connie and husband James Galvin of Manito, Illinois, as well as many loved cousins, nieces and nephews. Clyde was preceded in death by his parents, bothers Phillip, Allen Junior, and sister Mary Rakestraw Spencer. As per his wishes, cremation has been accorded. An interment ceremony with full military honors will take place at the US Houston National Cemetery at a later date.More information on the US Houston National Cemetery can be found at http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/houston.asp. There will also be a Celebration of Life held on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 from 2pm to 4pm at Henderson Funeral Home located at 2131 Velde Drive in Pekin, IL 61554. We ask that in lieu of flowers a donation be made in Clyde's name to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.https://secure3.4agoodcause.com/afa/fundraisers/memorial1.aspx. Visitation Wednesday, November 25, 2015 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM delete Pekin,IL 61554