Wilford W. "Willie" Little, age 87, of Gresham, passed away on Friday, January 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 gunners mate on the USS Antietam, the USS Shangri-La and the USS Bairoko in WWII. 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 the 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, Leila, their children, Sandra Anderson of Eau Claire and Gregory (Sandy) Little of Hampton, VA., 3 grandchildren, Evan (Arianna), Jason (Jessica) and Tymber, and 4 great grandchildren, Anysa, Gavin, Justice, and Abby He was preceded in death by his parents, 1 brother, Harvey Little, and 2 sisters Louise Neitzer Zahringer, Edith Koeller, a son-in-law, William Anderson and 2 special nephews, Bill and Jim Neitzer. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at Zion Lutheran Church in Gresham with 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 4:00 - 8:00 pm on Monday, February 2, 2015 and again at the church on Tuesday from 10:00 am 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.
