Gordon Franklin Culver, 86, Lincoln, died Jan. 31, 2010.

Born in Pawnee County, Okla., on Feb. 2, 1923, he retired from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1990 after 29 years as professor and head of business education in the former Teachers College. He taught at Oklahoma State University and Stillwater High School prior to coming to Nebraska.

Culver served three years in the U.S. Army in World War II, two of those years in Gen. George S. Patton’s Third Army in the European Theatre of Operation. He rose from private to master sergeant (sergeant major) in the Second Mechanized Calvary Group utilizing his secretarial and administrative management skills. In March 1945, at Klatovy, Czechoslovakia, where his unit was located on Victory in Europe Day, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service.

Culver earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business from OSU, and a doctorate in secondary education from the University of Nebraska. In a 42 year career in education, he served as president of the National Business Education Association; Delta Pi Epsilon, national graduate professional society in business education; Mountain-Plains Business Education, and as Dean of the Institute for Certifying Secretaries.

At UNL, he served on numerous committees and in 1985 was awarded an Outstanding Teacher Award by the university. Culver also conducted workshops for business teachers and secretaries throughout the country and in the Bahamas and Puerto Rico. For many years he was a shorthand consultant for the Gregg Division of McGraw-Hill Book Co.

After retiring from UNL, Culver completed the Master Gardener program and volunteered many hours to that activity. In 1996, he was named Volunteer of the Month for volunteer activities with the Lancaster County Election Commission. He served six years on the council of First Lutheran Church after joining that church in 1994. Active in UNL’s Emeriti Association, he served as president in 1996. His desire to be a career student was realized in retirement through several years of involvement with SAGE (now OLLI) the continuing education program which he served as a member of the advisory board.

Culver is survived by his wife, Sidney Hahn Culver of Lincoln; her son and two grandsons and by his children and their spouses, Alan and Jan Culver, Janis and Fred Hiatt, and Gregg Culver, all of Lincoln; Steven and Lisa Culver, Nederland, Colo.; and Drs. Robert and Mariann Culver, West Des Moines, Iowa; nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren; three step-great grandchildren.

Memorial Service is 10:30 a.m. Feb. 5 at First Lutheran Church, 1551 S. 70th St. Memorials in lieu of flowers to the University of Nebraska Foundation (The Gordon F. and Erma M. Culver Graduate Scholarship in Business Education). Condolences or personal reflections may be sent online at www.roperandsons.com.