Danny Little, age 76, of Plainwell, a 1967 Martin High School graduate, died Wednesday, March 18, at his daughter’s home after a brief battle with esophageal cancer.
Born in Kentucky, on Aug. 22, 1949, Danny was the youngest child among Adam and Marie (Salisbury) Little’s six children. The family eventually traded the Kentucky hills for Michigan in 1954, and Dan would grow up and graduate from Martin High School.
His life took a patriotic turn in 1969 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving his country as a member of the elite 82nd Airborne Division. Upon his honorable discharge, Danny returned home to Michigan to begin a long career in manufacturing, first at Rockwell International in Allegan until the late ’80s, and later at Haworth Manufacturing, where he remained until his retirement in 2008.
In 1975, he married Barbara (Bellgraph), and together they raised their three children in Otsego. Danny was his children’s biggest fan. Whether it was Joe’s Special Olympics events or basketball games for Doug and Tracy, he was always in the stands cheering them on.
As Tracy moved into coaching, Danny rarely missed a game, becoming a familiar and beloved face supporting the next generation of local athletes. He was always there to support his children’s endeavors.
Danny was fiercely loyal to the Kentucky Wildcats, the Pittsburgh Steelers and NASCAR’s Chase Elliott. He followed high school sports across the region- from the Wolverine Conference to the O-K Conference. He was always happy to chat about how teams were playing.
Dan held a lifelong passion for muscle cars and took immense pride in his Dodge Challenger. He treated his car as both a high-performance machine (#Hemi) and a prized gallery piece (no touching, please)!
Danny simply loved people and enjoyed his routines of meeting up with friends at local breakfast spots: Cooper Cafe, Barbed Wire, Our Table and Judy’s. With an easy-going demeanor and great sense of humor, he had the gift of gab and would strike up a conversation with anyone.
He was preceded in death by his parents Adam and Marie Little, mother of his children Barb Little, sisters Thelma Joe Little, Ruby Joyce Salisbury, and Rosalie Tobin, brother-in-law Bob Tobin, brother Claude Little, and sister-in-law Marty Little.
Surviving are his three children: Tracy Little of Grand Rapids, Joseph Little of Grand Rapids, and Douglas Little of Chandler, Ariz.; long-time friend Marcia Stech of Richland, and brother Robert Ray (Toni) Little of Galesburg.
Friends may dress casually and visit with Danny’s family starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11 at Winkel Funeral Home in Otsego until the time of the memorial service at 12:30pm, with celebrant Monica Reyna. Burial of ashes with military honors will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Plainwell.
