- Date Of Birth: April 26, 1922
- Date Of Death: March 2, 2014
- State: Missouri
Alvin L. Duffner, age 91, passed away Sunday, March 2, 2014 at Audrain Medical Center, Mexico, MO. Al had been a resident of the Missouri Veterans Home in Mexico, MO for the past 17 months. Al was born April 26, 1922 to August and Clara (nee Faes) Duffner. On May 3, 1947 he married Anita E. Kuhlmann in Morrison, MO.
Al served in the US Navy during WWII. He was assigned to the minesweeper the USS Strive. Al rose to the rank of chief quartermaster seeing duty in the Mediterranean and Pacific theaters. His most memorable duty during the war was piloting the Strive through the locks and dams of the Panama Canal and working with the Japanese Navy to clean mines from the shipping lanes in the seas around Japan.
Al was an active member of St. George Catholic Church, Commander of VFW Post 4182 (1967-68) and a VFW Life member. Al was one of the founders of Boy Scout Troop 116 and served as assistant Scoutmaster. Al was a 40 year member of the Hermann Lions Club, serving as recording secretary, Deputy District Governor, and District Governor, and received the Melvin Jones Fellow award from Lions International.
Al is survived by sons Richard (Jane) Mexico, MO, Daniel (Rhonda) Springfield, MO, John (Kay) Naples, FL, and daughter, Mary (Mike) Hughes of Columbia, MO, six grandchildren and three great-grandsons.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Anita Duffner, his parents, brothers Raymond and Elmer Duffner, and sister Rosie Pfautsch.
