Ernest (Ernie) Jacob Dufner, 79, died peacefully Friday morning, January 5, 2018, at The Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital near his home in Burr Ridge, Illinois. Ernie is predeceased by his beloved wife, Katarina (née Sever), who also recently passed away, on December 20, 2017. Ernie is survived by his four children Sonya Dufner, Andrea Priest, Gregory Dufner, and Matthew Dufner; his four grandchildren Lauren, Noah, Zachary, and Nathan; his sisters Alyce Orange and Mary Day; his brother Alan Dufner; and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Frank and Hermine Dufner, and his brother Frank Dufner. Ernie was born on April 8, 1938 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a buyer for Fisher Fazio Foods until 1980 and then relocated to Grant, Michigan and later Bakersfield, California to Wm. Bolthouse Farms, where he worked for for 28 years. A funeral mass will take place January 10th at 10am at Saint Cletus Church in La Grange, Illinois immediately followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois. His family finds comfort in your memories of him. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (michaeljfox.org).