Duane Orin McCullen, known far and wide as "Mac," passed away on Fri, May 14, 2010 at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. Born on Oct 24, 1921 in Saginaw, he is the son of the late Otho and Gladys (Norcross) McCullen.
Mac was loved deeply by his family and friends and will always be remembered for his warm smile, his humorous wit and charm. He loved life and all it had to offer and enjoyed every day to its fullest. Mac, You will be missed.
Mac graduated from Kalkaska High School in 1939. He served as a Corporal in the Army Air Core as a radio technician and instructor during WWII. Mac married Betty Loana Johnson on Nov 2, 1947 in Kalamazoo.
He was a member of Operating Engineer Local 324 fro 47 years and worked for numerous pipeline contractors throughout the US. During the mid 1970s Mac owned McCullen Company, a local excavating contracting company whose work included the construction for the ANR Gas Storage Facilities as well as many more commercial and residential projects.
Mac joined the order of Free Masons Lodge 252 of Safety Harbor, FL. He was a 32nd degree Scottish Rites Free Mason and was honored for being a Master Mason for 55 years at the Elk Rapids Masonic Lodge in 2009.
Locally, Mac was active as a 4H leader, starting the Kalkaska square dancing club. He served as teh head of the County Commissioners for several years and was on the committee for the Kalkaska County Complex Building Authority.
Mac was also a member of Coldsprings-Excelsior Fire & Rescue as a firefighter and later got involved with Northern Michigan Antique Flywheelers as a member and loved and enjoyed the show held annually in Jul at Walloon Lake.
Mac was one of the founding members of Kalkaska United Methodist Church and was an active member for many years.
Surviving Mac is his wife, Betty; his children, Timothy Duane (Kathy) McCullen of Kalkaska, Barbara Anne (Bob Krumm) McCullen of Traverse City; his grandchildren, Kelsey Marie (Tom Thompson) McCullen of Traverse City, and Tyler Douglas McCullen of Kalkaska; and his brother, Gerald McCullen of Midland.
Preceding Mac in death was his brother, Cleo McCullen.
The funeral service was held on Tue, May 18 at Wolfe-O'Neill Funeral Home with Reverend Greg Wolfe officiating from the Kalkaska United Methodist Church. Burial was at Evergreen Cemetery.
