Alvin C. Dufour

Dr. A. C. Dufour, 94, of Elkhart, Ind., passed away October 9, 2020, in Elkhart General Hospital after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Sue Ann (Norris) Dufour, daughter Jenne (Carey) Sayre of Elkhart, sons David Dufour of Elkhart, and Christopher Dufour of Burns Harbor. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Demarée Dufour-Noneman of Elkhart; Dylan Dufour of Lake Barrington, Ill.; Paige Dufour of Noblesville, Ind.; Ryan Wirt of Mishawaka; Nicholas Wirt of Granger; Allison Wirt of Elkhart; Tyler Dufour of Chicago; and Daniel Dufour of Oahu, Hawaii. In addition, five great-grandchildren survive.

Dr. Dufour, or “Duffy” as he was known, was born Alvin Charles Dufour on November 27, 1925, in Detroit to Ernest and Florence (Brede) Dufour. He grew up in Utica, Mich., graduating from Utica High School eventually obtaining his DVM degree from Michigan State College in 1946. While at Michigan State, he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Upon graduation, he entered large animal veterinary practice, mainly in LaGrange County, Ind. 

In 1950, Duffy married Sue Ann Norris of Middlebury, Ind., whom he had met on the Middlebury Post Office steps in 1947. Their first date was dancing to Harry James’ orchestra at the Palais Royale in South Bend, Ind.

From 1953 to 1955, Duffy served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force, at Limestone AFB, Limestone, Maine, working as the base veterinarian.

He established Dufour Veterinary Hospital in Elkhart in 1956, operating it until he was in his early 80s in 2005. Local residents will remember him as a caring veterinarian with a robust sense of humor. Duffy was a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association, and the Michiana Veterinary Medical Association, of which he was a past president. His clinic met the high standards necessary for Hospital Membership in the American Animal Hospital Association. 

In the early 1960s, at the urging of the late Barbara Victor, Duffy became seriously interested in art, learning painting from various teachers including Martin Stevens, Harriet Monteith, Harold Zisla, and Ben Konis. In his home studio, Duffy turned out hundreds of artworks, and he was never far from his sketchbook. His paintings hang in many Elkhart area homes, and his work has appeared in the Midwest Museum of Art Juried Show. His art subjects ranged from portraits to animals, western scenes to artistic nudes. In later years, he turned to electronic “painting,” and created dozens of cartoons revolving around his impressions of summer at Birch Lake in Vandalia, MI. Duffy was active in the Elkhart Art League for many years, at times serving as its president.

Duffy will be cremated and no public service is planned. He will be interred at Rice Cemetery at a later date.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Elkhart County Humane Society 54687 CR 19 Bristol, IN 46507 and the Elkhart Art League 131 Tyler St. Elkhart, IN 46516.  Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home are in charge of arrangements.

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