Norman C. Little

Norman C. Little, 91, of North Manchester, Indiana, died Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. peacefully at home following a short illness. He was born June 27, 1921 in Huntington, Indiana, to Willard and Emma (Murray) Little. He married Eileen Metzger on March 15, 1942 at the Walnut Street Church of the Brethren. He was a 1939 graduate of Chester High School, North Manchester, IN, where he was a member of the State winning 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Team. Norman was a lifelong farmer in the Bippus and North Manchester area, and his farming operation was twice honored as a tour stop on the Northern Indiana Farm Management Association Tour. He was an active community leader, serving 24 years on the Wabash County Fair Board, 20 of those years as Swine Superintendent, and on the 4-H Fair Sale Committee, as well as serving as past President of the Wabash Fair Board Association, the Wabash Extension Advisory Council and Board and the 4-H Council. Norman was a member of the Wabash County Pork Producers Association, where he served as President. He was a past Chairman of the Wabash County ASCS Committee, where he served 23 years and was a member of the Farm Bureau, serving 30 years on the Wabash County Beacon Credit Union Credit Committee. Norman was a long-time member and past President of the North Manchester Rotary Club, and had served on the Board of Directors of Timbercrest Senior Living Community, North Manchester and on the Wabash County Hospital Building Board. He was a 21-year member of the National Belgian Draft Horse Association and was an active member of the West Manchester Church of the Brethren, where he served as past Chairman of the Pleasant Hill Cemetery Board and the Board of Stewards and then a member of the Eel River Community Church of the Brethren when it consolidated with West Manchester. Norman's passions were his family, his farm and his Belgian Draft Horses, of which he enjoyed owning, working with and breaking the horses, and then selling them to as far away as Quebec, Canada and Disney World. Norman is survived by his beloved and faithful partner of 70 years, Eileen Little, North Manchester, IN; and his beloved family of two children, Barbara (Don) Peters of Fort Wayne, IN and Ted (Lisa) Little of North Manchester, IN; three grandchildren, Jamie (Gregg) Mosier of Fort Wayne, IN, Nate (Holly) Little of Indianapolis, IN and Brad (Kara) Peters of Fort Wayne, IN; six great-grandchildren, Drew, Megan and Noah Mosier and Allison, Austin and Avery Peters all of Fort Wayne, IN; two brothers, Richard (Phyllis) Little, North Manchester, IN and Robert (Betty) Little, Jacksonville, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother, Audra (Bolinger) Little, and one sister, Helen Conrad. Services will be held Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at McKee Mortuary, 1401 St. Rd. 114 West, North Manchester, IN. Friends may call from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, July 30, 2012 at McKee Mortuary, North Manchester, IN. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, North Manchester, IN. For those who wish to honor the memory of Norman C. Little, memorial contributions may be made to the Wabash-Miami Home Health Care and Hospice, 400 Ash Street, Suite B, Wabash, IN 46992 or to the Eel River Community Church of the Brethren Friends in Need Fund, 2507 E. State Road 14, Silver Lake, IN 46982. To send a private condolence to the Little family, use the Condolence link on the Homepage.