Date of Death:  April 30, 2022

Service Details

The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, 2022 at DuFour Farms located at 13262 M-60, Three Rivers, MI.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 9, 2022 at Porter Baptist Church with Pastor Patrick Neff officiating. Interment will be held at Shavehead Cemetery.

Obituary Notice

Mr. Philip Allen DuFour, age 73, of Three Rivers, passed away unexpectedly surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, April 30, 2022 at the Bronson Methodist Hospital. He was born on August 28, 1948 in Elkhart, IN., the son of the late Allen E. and Ruth V. (Hall) DuFour.

Phil graduated from Constantine High School in 1966 where he met the love of his life Karen Westgate. Together they started DuFour Farms on M-60 and raised two wonderful children Pam and Rob.

Phil’s passion in life revolved around family, farm, faith, and collecting and restoring tractors. Phil was an honest, strong, hardworking man that was able to continue working in the fields with Rob and Drew Halon until his last day. His incredible legacy will live on.

Phil was a member of the St. Joe Valley Old Engine Association, Cass County Tractor Pullers and a 25-year grower for Pioneer Seed Corn.

Philip was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Kenneth DuFour.

He leaves to cherish his loving memory, his wife of 55 years, Karen DuFour; two beloved children, Pamela DuFour Vary and Robert DuFour; one sister, Marcia Wilcher; and two very special grandchildren, Matthew Philip Vary and Annalise Paige Vary. Several nieces and nephews and very close friends.

Additional Information

Memorial donations in Phil’s memory may be directed to Porter Baptist Church or the American Cancer Society. Envelopes are available at and may be sent to Hohner Funeral Home in care of his arrangements.

Please Leave Your Condolences

When your condolences are submitted they will not display until approved by the Hohner staff for appropriateness out of respect for their memory. They should appear within 24 hours or less. Thank you for your understanding.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

19 Comments

  1. To Karen Pam and Rob , we were so surprised to hear of Phil’s passing . Your family was always so close . I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for all of you . Randy always loved working with Phil , whether it was planting , or harvesting . Working with the pigs as well . Randy and Phil shared a love for John Deere tractors for many years .They often worked together in restoration . Phil was always a fair and upstanding man in anything he did . Were both so bke

    • Karen sorry for your loss. Phil was a really great guy. I met him one day I was building a mc.he was looking at me from the road. I make junk art and he was looking at a tractor i started but never finished. We started talking about tractors. We Hit it off my neighbor in r.i.had over 20 green machines phil would talk about his collection. Phil was the real deal farmer. He would show me pictures karen would tell me stories of home. Phil liked lobsters so when they came to florida we would go to Angel’s all you can eat lobster. Every year when they came to orlando phil would move that tractor to my grill I would know he was in town. I been watching Rfd farm channel makes me think of phil.

  2. Phil was such a family man! A man that you could tell by his expressions how he loved his family, life and God. The way his family loved him and looked up to him was another way you knew he was a family man! He was a man that we all respected! He was the example of a man that all should strive for. He was a family man that America could use more of. Farmer Phil is the man our children need to look up to as a hero! A hard working, God fearing, loving man. He will be missed in our community! He gave this community so much. A very generous man with a smile on his face! My heart goes out to this family because he is a man that filled many hard to fill shoes! Prayers for you all!

  3. Phil, A Kind and Gentle Soul
    Knowledgeable and Hard Working
    Always up for Fun and Laughter
    Sincere and Understanding
    A True Friend like no other
    A Loving and Caring Family Man
    These are the Memories of a Truly Great Man I will for ever Cherish
    My Sincere Condolences to Karen Pam Rob and all the family

  4. I am still in total shock after hearing Phil passed away. I have known Phil since we were teenagers and a bunch of us had Chevy chevelle’s. I had only saw him mostly at the tractor pulls in cass and goshen the last few years. All I can say is he was a super great guy and a John Deere lover to say the least. I know his family will have a major void without him but so will his friends. Rip my friend

  5. A great man with a kind heart. A very Hard working and knowledgeable man. A wonderful friend who was always there for you. A man that loved to have fun. A loving family Man like no other. These are the memories I will cherish for my life time of Phil
    Feeling blessed to know Phil and his beautiful family
    My sincere condolences to Karen Pam Rob and all the family❤️

    • Sorry for your loss. I wish I had known about it quicker. I will always remember the time Phil went with me to Waterloo in 1987 to the first Two Cylinder Expo and the good time we had. A few years later he allowed me to drive home his 840 scraper from the St Joseph Valley Show. Sincere condolences. Steve

  6. Always enjoyed it when Phil came in my tire store. It was a pleasure dealing with him as Phil nicknamed me “Mister Firestone,”. It was an honor to know him. I will remember him whenever anything John Deere is seen.

  7. Karen, I’m so sorry to hear about Phil’s passing. I pray God will give you some peace ,so you can focus on your memories. I’ll be thinking about you. Pat (Barth) Green.

  8. In the mid 1980’s I worked at a seed, fertilizer facility and met many farmers in the area and Phil was one. Over the years I have seen him in different local places. He was always friendly and great to talk to. I always thought a lot of him. He will be missed by many people. My heartfelt condolences to his family in this difficult time.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Post comment