Duane Culler was born and raised in Lucas , Ohio.  He served in the Army during world War II.  Following his graduation from Wittenberg University in 1949, Duane accepted a position with Central Loan Co. in Osborn.  Later he was appointed manager of the Wright-Patt Credit Union.

After seven years in that position, and nearly 10 years as a member of St. Mark’s, Culler accepted the call to become an ordained minister.  He graduated in 1962 from Hamma School of Theology in Springfield where one of his classmates was pastor Gordon Glink. 

Pastor Culler’s first ministry was at Zion Lutheran Church, Lafayette, Ohio.  He then served a mission congregation which became Christ the King Lutheran church in Centerville Ohio.  In 1973 he became pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, an inner city congregation in Akron, Ohio.

In returned as guest  preacher July 12, 1998, as part of St. Mark’s sesquicentennial celebration, Pastor Culler preached on “Love Finds a Way,” using as his text Luke 10:25-37.

“In the parable of the good Samaritan, the lawyer, the priest, and the Levite, all religious men, each found a way to keep the traveler, who was beaten and near death, at arms’ length.  Hence they need not feel too guilty,” Pastor Culler told the congregation.  “Those we keep at arms’ length may provide the very opportunity for us to be the people of God we claim to be.  The Samaritan had compassion for the traveler and his love found a way to help him, not Just now but as long as needed.  As you at St. Mark’s begin a new chapter in your history, I pray you will live the love of Jesus and find a way to be His people."