Lionel V. Duke Dufour

Lionel Victor "Duke" Dufour, 82, a lifelong resident of Dracut, died Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, at his home. He was the husband of the late Beatrice (Morin) Dufour.

Born March 7, 1928, he was the son of the late Rose (Damboise) Dufour and Alfred Dufour. He attended Dracut schools, graduating from Dracut High School in 1946.

Mr. Dufour was a post-World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy. He enjoyed telling tales of his military service to his children and grandchildren. A military history buff, his Naval service was one of his proudest accomplishments.

He was a self-employed cement mason and contractor, owning both United Concrete and Milltown Remodeling. A member of the Centralville Social Club's Board of Directors, Mr. Dufour received a key to the city of Lowell after the club was remodeled about 10 years ago. A true family man, the love, support and sense of family he instilled in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was a legacy he was most proud of.

He is survived by his longtime companion, Anne Cliff of Dracut; six children and their spouses; Claire (Dufour) Cloutier and her husband, Edward, of Dracut; Diane (Dufour) Wagman of Visalia, Calif.; Donna (Dufour) Cummings and her husband, Michael, of Gilford, N.H.; Debra (Dufour) Connolly and her husband, John, of Pelham; Alfred Dufour and his wife, Suzanne (Gilbert) Dufour, of Nashua; and Jo Anne Dufour and her spouse, Ellen O'Shea, of Mont Vernon, N.H.; 14 grandchildren, Jennifer (Miller) Osfield; Melissa (Miller) LaFontaine; Jessica Miller; Edward Cloutier; Robert Cloutier; Rachael (Wagman) Fournier; Tobey Wagman; Aaron Wagman; Samantha Wagman; Jillian (Cummings) Carey; Amy Cummings; Shannon (Connolly) Gordon; John Connolly; Scott Connolly; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Dufour was also the father of the late Lorraine Miller; father-in-law of the late Theodore Miller; and brother of the late Gerard Dufour and Aline (Dufour) Albert.