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HALFWAY LOCATION, MI – Richard Alan Little, age 84, of Halfway Location, died peacefully in his sleep Sunday, March 26th, 2023, at his home.
Richard (known as Dick to many) was born August 14th, 1938, in Hanover, New Hampshire. He was a loving husband and a caring father. Dick was a cowboy at heart with a memorable handshake and an "old school" kind of strength, earned through his early years in the New England mines and a life full of service. You wouldn't hear him complaining come hard work or hardships. He was also a kind and humble man, with both a stubborn character and an honest morality. Dick was a graduate of Thetford Academy in Vermont and a Vietnam Veteran.
He served proudly in the Air Force (stationed in Chicago and K. I. Sawyer, where he met his wife of 63 years) and retired after 17 years in the Michigan Army National Guard's 107th Engineers. In recognition of his service, he was honored by a flight to Washington D.C. through Upper Peninsula Honor Flight in May of 2018. Dick also spent many years volunteering with local fire departments and was a long-time fireman for Powell Township (Big Bay, Michigan).
His life was full of activity and involvement, from skiing the mountains of Vermont to playing on horseshoe, cribbage and softball leagues in Michigan. His passion was shown everywhere, whether out in the pasture with horses, in his motorhome at a music festival, over a pool table (winning more often than not), prospecting for gold on the beach or telling stories during dinner. That passion was also shown through his collections, from stamps to model trucks, from which he enjoyed sharing his wealth of knowledge.
He will surely be remembered by many with a grin on his face. His sense of humor spread to those around him, through his antics reminding them to appreciate the humor in both the simple things (like walking a pretend dog at a restaurant) and the unexpected (like riding an actual horse into a tavern).
He is survived by his wife, Janice; daughters, Theresa "Tessie" (Alan) Miller of Channing and Corinna "Cori" (Mike) McKevitt of Negaunee; sons-in-law, Kirk Marjomaki of Big Bay and Dean Parker of Newberry; sister, Dawn Piper Little of New Hampshire; grandchildren, Bryan (Julia) Miller of Iron Mountain, David (Jamyca) Miller of Iron Mountain and the Philippines, Wendy (Katy) Rude of Tallahassee, Dylan McKevitt of Negaunee, Daryn (Amanda) McKevitt of Toledo, Kirk "Kirky" Marjomaki Jr. of Big Bay, Wayne Marjomaki of Big Bay, Katie Parker of Curtis, Krysta Parker of Appleton and numerous great-grandchildren, other family, and friends including his beloved cat "Dummy."
He is preceded in death by his parents Richard Henry and Beryl Ruth Little of New Hampshire; daughters, Rebecca "Becki" (Kirk) Marjomaki in 2016 and Novella "Novi" (Dean) Parker in 2018 and his brother, Pierce Johnathan Little.
A memorial service is upcoming and details will be announced by the Canale-Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services, with a pot luck at Draver Park in Big Bay, Michigan following the service (please no nuts due to allergies).
Memories of Richard may be shared at canalefuneral.com.