Al Zinter, 70, of Owatonna, died Sunday, December 16, 2012 at Clare Bridge Cottage in Owatonna with family by his side. He was born October 3, 1942 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the son of Ervin and Dorothy (Pederson) Zinter. He graduated from Willmar High School in 1960 and Concordia College, in Moorhead, MN, in 1964. Upon graduating he accepted the choir position at Fairmont High School and taught in Fairmont for 19 years. In 1976 he started the Al Zinter Chorale that performed more than 100 concerts in southern Minnesota from 1976-1983 and two sets of reunion concerts, 1989 and 2008. Al was called into church work in 1983 and became the Director of Music Ministries for Second Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, IL. In 1992 he accepted the position to direct the choirs at Owatonna High School and remained there until his retirement in 2003. Over the course of his career, Al Zinter''s choral groups have been featured at many regional and national conventions, sung in nearly every state in the continental U.S., and have taken two international tours. He also directed several church choirs, community choirs, and many large-scale sacred works and musical theatre shows. He was married to Jean (Gratz) Zinter on June 4, 1967, in Fairmont, MN. Together they raised three children, Maria, Aaron, and Erik. He will be remembered as a thoughtful and loving spouse, patient and devoted father, and devout Christian. Al loved to spend time with his family, play cards, and was a natural left-handed athlete. He is survived by his wife Jean Zinter of Owatonna, daughter Maria (Mike) Lamb of Heyworth, IL, sons Aaron (Brittany) Zinter of Fargo, ND, and Erik (Rachel) Zinter of Moorhead, MN, and six grandchildren, Kate and Harper Lamb, Lydia Zinter, Ella, Canaan, and Eli Zinter. He is also survived by his sister Janice (Jim) Willard of Colton, SD, and brothers Gary (Betty) Zinter of Silver Bay, MN, and Erv (Pam) Zinter of Plymouth, MN in addition to many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents. Visitation will be held at Michaelson Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and one hour prior to the service on Thursday, December 20, 2012. Funeral service will be Thursday December 20, 2012 at 11:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna with Reverend Julie Malone officiating. Internment will be held at St. John Cemetery in Owatonna. Memorials are preferred to Owatonna Music Boosters, Building for Generations at Trinity Lutheran Church, and Owatonna Hospice Patient Care. The family would like to thank the Clare Bridge Cottage and Owatonna Hospice for the wonderful care that Al received. Visitation: 12/19/2012 16:00 12/19/2012 20:00 Service: and one hour prior to the service at the church 12/20/2012 11:00