Robert Leland Little

In Loving Memory of

Robert Leland Little

February 19, 1967 – July 21, 2026

Robert Leland Little was born on February 19, 1967, in Atascadero, California, to Robert Austin Little and Florinda Henrietta (Doyle) Little. At the age of six, Robert moved with his parents and his sister, Geraldine Elizabeth Little, to Boise, Idaho, where he was raised. He attended Sacred Heart Elementary School, West Junior High School, and Borah High School. A gifted athlete from a young age, Robert excelled in many sports, but baseball was always his greatest passion. His talent as a pitcher even drew interest from the Cincinnati Reds organization.

After high school, Robert served his country in the United States Navy, going in with hopes, promises, and dreams of one day becoming a heart doctor. He worked in the boiler room aboard the USS Anchorage, which gave him the opportunity to travel throughout the Pacific, including Australia, where he held a Tasmanian devil. During his military service, he was also stationed in the Philippines, Hawaii, and Alaska.

Following his time in the Navy, Robert settled in Elko, Nevada, where he worked as a dishwasher before a friend helped him secure a position with Norco, delivering essential gases to area mines and contractors. In March 1988, Robert met Manda Zimmer. They were married from July 8, 1990-2011, beginning a life filled with love, laughter, and family and settling in Boise, ID. Robert began working for IFECO in May 1989, where he learned to install commercial restaurant equipment. What started as part of his career soon became a successful side business, installing equipment in restaurants throughout the Treasure Valley.

Robert and Manda were blessed with four wonderful children: Michelle, MacKenzie, Leland, and Autumn. Robert cherished his family and was a fun-loving, caring, and devoted father who treasured every moment spent with them. He also became a grandpa with the birth of Leland's daughter, Baesyl.

Robert worked hard to support his family and earned his Journeyman Electrician license before becoming an Electrical Contractor. In 2001, he founded Irish Electric, building it into a respected and successful business that served countless homeowners, businesses, and commercial projects throughout the state of Idaho. His strong work ethic, integrity, and dedication earned him the trust and respect of everyone who knew and worked with him. A huge accomplishment for him in his career was to have a word of mouth business, built solely on his own reputation and relationships with his peers and customers.

Robert was a big-time foodie and enjoyed cooking for his family. He enjoyed trying new foods, watching TV shows about food, and creating his own recipes. Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern were among his favorite shows. His most famous creation was his secret BBQ sauce, established in 1989 — many of you were blessed to enjoy his BBQ ribs with this famous secret sauce. Robert had made a batch that was still in the refrigerator at the time of his passing, and it has since been freeze-dried to preserve it for the family. Cooking for others, and making sure everyone was well fed, was one of his great joys. He was always willing to meet everyone’s dietary needs including gluten-free, vegetarian, or making smaller versions of things without ingredients someone didn’t like.

Robert was also an animal lover and had many pets during his childhood, which later in life led to him bringing home many different animals for his kids. At the time of his passing he left behind his cherished German shepherds, Solomon and Pearl who are heartbroken without him.

In 2011, Robert met Leah Orlandini on a dating app and they later married in January of 2012. Robert gained three more daughters: Katy, Lindsey, and Molly Lutjens. Robert and Leah shared many loving years together and remained close and devoted to each other up to his death, despite a divorce in February of 2026. They enjoyed spending time with each other that included driving his beloved Hellcat and many travel adventures, including Puerto Rico, New Zealand, Cook Islands, and Hawaii. The trip to the big island of Hawaii in 2023 sparked a desire to one day retire there together.

The most important thing to Robert next to his family was his relationship with his Savior. Even though he wasn’t a weekly church goer, his relationship with Jesus endured and his Faith was strong. It was his Faith that kept him going through even the toughest and darkest times, and the promised everlasting life he believed in next to his King of Kings.

Robert was preceded in death by his mother, Florinda H. Little; his father, Robert A. Little; his sister, Geraldine E. Little; and his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and numerous relatives.

Left to honor his memory are his ex-wife, Manda Zimmer; their four children, Michelle Sexton (Wil), MacKenzie Little, Leland Little, and Autumn Little; granddaughter Baesyl Little; his ex-wife, Leah Little, and her daughters, Katy Lutjens-Ruddell (Ryan), Lindsey Lutjens, and Molly Lutjens; and numerous friends and customers.

Robert will be remembered for his generous heart, infectious sense of humor, unconditional love and pride in his children, and the dedication he brought to his work. His legacy lives on through the family he loved so deeply, the friendships he built, the many lives he touched, and his everlasting unwavering faith and love in Jesus.

He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.