Wilford W. “Willie” Little, 87, of Gresham, passed away on Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, in Shawano. He was born on May 12, 1927, in the town of Red Springs, the son of the late Wilber and Edith (Quinney) Little.
Willie enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a gunner’s mate on the USS Antietam, the USS Shangri-La and the USS Bairoko in World War II. On May 12, 1951, Wilford was united in marriage to Leila Hildebrandt at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Stony Hill. He worked in a paper mill in Gresham for 15 years, drove truck for Lee Davids in the logging industry for 22 years, operated a farm for 10 years in the town of Herman and worked at Hoffman Transit.
Willie was member of Zion Lutheran Church in Gresham and Gresham American Legion Post 390. He enjoyed fishing for walleye in Canada, salt water fishing in Virginia and North Carolina. Willie enjoyed hunting for deer on his farm, tree farming and planting pine trees, and both Willie and Leila were awarded the 2003 Outstanding Tree Farmer award. He also loved his dog, Bandit.
Wilford is survived by his wife of 63 years, Leila; their children, Sandra Anderson, of Eau Claire, and Gregory (Sandy) Little, of Hampton, Virginia; three grandchildren, Evan (Arianna), Jason (Jessica) and Tymber; and four great-grandchildren, Anysa, Gavin, Justice and Abby.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Harvey Little; two sisters, Louise Neitzer Zahringer, Edith Koeller; a son-in-law, William Anderson; and two special nephews, Bill and Jim Neitzer.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, at Zion Lutheran Church in Gresham with the Rev. John C. Eyer officiating. Military rites will be conducted at the church on Tuesday by Gresham American Legion Post 390, with burial in the spring in Zion Rest Cemetery. Friends may call at Swedberg Funeral Home in Gresham from 4-8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, 2015, and again at the church on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Evergreen Nursing Home and Shawano Medical Center for their wonderful care of Willie.
www.swedbergfuneralhome.com
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