GRETCHEN O. LITTLE

Mrs. Gretchen O. Little, 70, of 2507 Rebecca Court West, died at 12:15 a.m. Tuesday (March 21, 2006) in her home.

Born November 28, 1935, in Lincoln, Illinois, Gretchen was the daughter of Dirk and Florence Minch Behrends. She married James R. L. Little on October 8, 1961, in Lincoln, Illinois. He died November 14, 2000.

Gretchen was a member of First Christian Church.

A 1953 graduate of Hartsburg-Emden High School, Gretchen graduated from Nurses Training at the Methodist Medical Center in Peoria in 1956. She was employed at the Pekin Hospital for 10 years and then at the Pekin Medical Group for 12 years. After moving to Quincy, she worked at the Illinois Veterans Home until her retirement in 1999.

Survivors include two daughters, Odette K. Little of Woodstock, IL and Melissa A. Little of New York City, NY and a son, James R. L. Little III and his wife Elizabeth of McHenry, IL.; three grandchildren, Seth M. McDaniel, James R. L. Little IV and Joshua D. Little all of McHenry, IL.; two brothers, Ronald Behrends and his wife Lila of Pekin, IL. and Dirk Behrends and his wife Nancy of Delavan, IL.; two sisters, Barbara Thomas of Bloomington, IL. and Jennie Schleder and her husband Duane of Warrensburg, IL.; sister-in-laws Kathy Behrends of Decatur, IL. and Geneva Behrends of Emden, IL.; and many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Little was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a sister, Virginia Klokkenga; and three brothers, Robert Behrends, John Behrends and Byron Behrends.

Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. in the First Christian Church by the Rev. Joby Brown.

Visitation will be Friday morning from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services at First Christian Church.

Graveside services will be Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. in the Littleton Cemetery in Littleton, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, that family requests that memorials be made to the First Christian Church of Quincy, Illinois.

The Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.