Rosary service for Brother Albert Kuntemeier, SM

Albert George Kuntemeier was born on Oct. 21, 1930, in St. Louis, one of four children to Arthur and Regina (Peterman) Kuntemeier. He attended St. Paul the Apostle school and went on to Northside Catholic High School, where he first encountered the Brothers of Mary. He studied at Northside for just one year. On Aug. 1, 1945, Al, who was not quite 15, entered the Maryhurst postulate in St. Louis, where he finished his high school studies. He entered the Marianist novitiate in Galesville, Wisconsin, where he professed first vows a year later, on Aug. 15, 1948.

Brother Al earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Dayton in 1951. He began teaching that autumn at Eugene Coyle High School in St. Louis and professed perpetual vows on July 19, 1953, in Galesville. Coyle High closed in 1960 and was replaced with the brand new St. John Vianney High School, where Brother Al continued to teach for one year. He then spent a year (1961-62) teaching at McBride High School, also in St. Louis. During this first decade of ministry, the energetic young Marianist taught religion, social studies, and business courses and coached football, soccer, track and golf. He served as athletic director and moderator of various clubs. He was the treasurer for both his community and Vianney.

By taking summer courses, Brother Al earned a master’s degree in business administration from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1962. He then spent a year in religious studies as a “second novitiate” before embarking on seven years as vocation director for the St. Louis Province amid the changes of the Second Vatican Council and the societal upheavals of the late 1960s. He also earned a master’s degree in guidance and counseling in 1972 from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

During this time, Brother Al returned to the classroom, spending a year (1971-72) at Marian High School in South Bend, Indiana. 

For the next four years, Brother Al ministered as a teacher, counselor and coach at St. Michael’s High School in Chicago.

Brother Al began ministry at Bishop McGuiness High in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1976, where he remained for four years. In the autumn of 1981, he began serving at Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth, Texas, in what would be the longest stretch of a long career. He continued at Nolan as a teacher, senior guidance counselor and soccer and tennis coach until 2014.

At age 83, Brother Al retired from Nolan High to active service at the Marianist Residence Community in San Antonio. He served as chaplain to the tennis team at St. Mary’s University, a sport he loved and continued to play into his 90s.