Obituaries are courtesy of Mueller-Bies Funeral Homes, located at 2130 N. Dale St., Roseville, Minn.

David R. Dufresne (1944-2026)

David Rivard Dufresne of St. Paul, Minn. passed away on Friday. He was 81.

Dufresne was born in St. Paul to parents Harold and Marian on Oct. 6, 1944. He grew up in the Highland Park neighborhood and graduated from Central High School in 1962. He then received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. After graduating in 1966, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served as a staff sergeant in the Tactical Air Command at Shaw AFB in Columbia, S.C.

Following his honorable discharge, he worked as an interior designer for Dayton’s Commercial Interiors. A highlight of his experience at Dayton’s was his work on preserving the Art Deco interior of the Forum Cafeteria in downtown Minneapolis.

Dufresne was a life-long, active member of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in St. Paul. He held several leadership roles and was a member of its senior choir. He also applied his talents to generate banners and other artwork for its worship services.

Dufresne was an avid football fan and appreciated both popular and classical music. He enjoyed interacting with his extended family and exploring its history and genealogy.

Dufresne is survived by his brother Joel (Joanne), nephews Alexandre and Thomas, Benjamin and Jonathan (Danea) Woltmann and nieces Rachael (Daniel) Berglund and Christa Satterfield as well as by many grand-nephews and grand-nieces.