Obituary

Brandon Dufoe, 39, of Grinnell, passed away at Cornerstone Hospice in Orlando, Florida on Friday, August 14, 2026.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am, Monday, August 24, 2026 at the Grinnell Christian Church. Interment will be at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. A luncheon will be held at the Harris Center, which is located on the Grinnell College campus at 1114, 10th Avenue, Grinnell, IA 50112.

Brandon’s family will receive friends from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm on Sunday, August 23, 2026 at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to his son, Nolan’s education fund by making the check payable to Brandon’s mother, Laura Dufoe. Checks may be mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with his family online at www.smithfh.com.

Brandon Dwight Dufoe was born on August 29, 1986, in Grinnell, Iowa, to Dwight Evan Dufoe and Laura Lynn (Montgomery) Dufoe. He was raised in Grinnell and graduated from Grinnell High School with the Class of 2005.

During high school, Brandon was a member of the wrestling team and qualified for the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament during both his junior and senior years. After high school, he went on to wrestle at the University of Dubuque before transferring to Kirkwood. His love for the sport continued well beyond high school and college. He later coached middle school wrestling and served as an official for youth and high school wrestling for the last 11 years. Brandon's dedication to the sport was recently recognized when he was honored as the 2025 Iowa AAU Women’s Wrestling Official of the Year. Iowa AAU Wrestling also honored Brandon this year by establishing The Dufoe Service Beyond the Mat Award to be presented to other courageous warriors who show perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity.

He worked for Grinnell College in Facilities Management for 11 years. Brandon took pride in working for the college and appreciated the support he received from his coworkers over the past several months.

Brandon was blessed with a son, Nolan, who was the center of his life. Brandon and Nolan enjoyed going on new adventures. Many of these included numerous road trips, where they frequently stayed at campgrounds along the way. Brandon also loved watching Nolan participate in his activities.

An outdoorsman at heart, Brandon enjoyed camping, kayaking, and spending evenings sitting around a campfire. More than anything, he loved being with his family and making memories with those closest to him. Family vacations held a special place in his heart, particularly the annual WilDu family Labor Day weekend. Brandon was an avid Cubs, Hawkeye, and college wrestling fan.

Following his cancer diagnosis, Brandon made the choice to remain positive and live life to the fullest. Rather than allowing his diagnosis to define him, he focused on making memories, taking special vacations with Nolan and his family, and enjoying the time with those that were close to him. He faced his journey with determination and a desire to make every day count.

Brandon had a natural ability to make friends wherever he went. His outgoing personality, kindness, and loyalty endeared him to many, and he deeply valued the friendships he made throughout his life. Above all, Brandon will be remembered for his love for Nolan, his devotion to his family and friends, and the positive way he chose to embrace life.

Brandon is survived by his son, Nolan of Grinnell; his parents, Dwight and Laura Dufoe of Grinnell; his sister, LaRae (Corey) Arment of Toddville, IA and their children, Landri and Calen; and his aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Dean and Janette Dufoe, his maternal grandparents, Keith and Betty Montgomery, and his uncle, John Breeden.