Beth Ann Kuntzleman

Surrounded by family and friends, Beth Ann (McDonald) Kuntzleman of Spring Arbor, Michigan, went to be with the Lord on April 15, 2026, at the age of 82.  She was a dynamic individual – a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend; an enthusiastic physical educator; and a thoughtful and intelligent businesswoman whose life was marked by generosity, resilience, faith, and a lifelong mission of helping others live healthier lives.

Beth was born on October 11, 1943, in Jackson, Michigan, to Donald “Mac” and Nathalie McDonald.  Beth attended Spring Arbor High School (1961) and Spring Arbor Junior College (1963), and received her undergraduate degree from Spring Arbor College in 1965.  She held a Master’s degree in Physical Education from Michigan State University.  In the early years of her career, Beth taught fitness and dance at Jackson Community College, where she was a well-respected instructor, coach, and advocate for equal opportunities for women and girls in athletics.

Beth met husband Charlie at a cardiac rehabilitation conference in Wisconsin.  Both shared a love for dance, and that connection grew into a life-long partnership.  They married in the fall of 1974, blending their families and beginning a life together marked by faith, determination, and deep mutual respect.  Beth welcomed Charlie’s four children into the home and heart she shared with her daughter Lisa, and together they built a family rooted in love and loyalty.

From a small basement office in their house, Beth helped Charlie grow Fitness Finders into a nationally recognized organization that emphasized the importance of wellness and physical education in schools.  In the beginning, the house was busy and full – children, employees, dogs, and the teeming bustle of a mission to improve and enhance the health and fitness of young people.  Through times of uncertainty and sacrifice, Beth brought insight, reliability, and perseverance.  Together, she and Charlie raised five children, built a dedicated team, secured grants, traveled extensively, and developed programs like The Mileage Club that would inspire and impact millions of children nationwide.  

For all she accomplished professionally, Beth remained committed to her family, friends, church, and alma mater.  She faithfully served on the Spring Arbor University Board of Trustees for over thirty years and remained active with SAU programming and fundraising until the last few months of her life.  Her support and generosity helped advance the mission of the university she loved so deeply.  A woman of faith, Beth was a committed and active member of the Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church, now The Arbor Church.  Her faith shaped the way she lived, served, and loved others.  

Beth will be remembered for her vitality, her warmth, her resilience through life’s challenges, and her unwavering devotion to her family and her life’s work.  Her legacy lives on not only in her family, but also in the lives of countless others who were touched by her work.

She is survived by her husband of 51+ years, Charles Kuntzleman; daughter Lisa (Garn) Fairbanks and husband Rich; stepchildren Debbie Sayers and husband Kendall, John Kuntzleman, Tom Kuntzleman and wife Melody, and Becky Bennett; grandchildren Tyler Sayers and partner Kye, Leslie Sayers, Kellie Benzing and husband James, Craig Fairbanks, Jacob Kuntzleman and wife Abby, John Michael Kuntzleman, Abby Kuntzleman, Leah Bennett and fiance Kial Ferguson, and Jackson Kuntzleman; great-grandchildren Jessie Mae Benzing, Harvey Benzing, and Kial Ferguson Jr.; and niece Dee Dee Readman and husband Larry.  She was preceded in death by her brother, Larry McDonald, and his wife Billie; and her nephew, Mike McDonald.

A celebration of Beth’s life will be held at The Arbor Church in Spring Arbor, MI, on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Visitation will be from 9:00-11:00 a.m., followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Spring Arbor cemetery at the conclusion of funeral.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Spring Arbor University or to Hospice of Jackson.

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