Fr. David was born in Belleville on September 11, 1938, to the late Joseph and Margaret (Adams) Kalert. After his boyhood and primary education in Freeburg, IL, he attended St. Henry’s Seminary in Belleville, prior to joining the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He pronounced his first vows as an Oblate in 1958 and was sent for further preparation for the priesthood at the Oblates’ International Scholasticate in Rome, Italy. He was ordained a priest in Rome on December 16, 1964.
His first assignment as a priest was as a teacher at St. Henry’s Seminary in Belleville. He also served as a mentor of future Oblates in Lockport, IL and in Lusaka, Zambia. In 1981, he was called to serve for six years as Vicar Provincial and Personnel Director of the Oblates’ Central Province of the United States in St. Paul, MN. In 1988, he became Director of the Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate in Belleville until he was appointed provincial superior of the Central Province in 1993. Six years later, when the U.S. Oblates merged their five provinces, he became the first provincial superior of the new United States Province in Washington, DC. After those many years in administration, he went to Lusaka, Zambia, to help in the training of future Oblate missionaries. While there, he also was administrator of a care facility for victims of AIDS. Upon his return to the USA in 2007, he served as the Vice-President for Administration at Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, TX. In 2018 he moved back to Belleville to reside at St. Henry’s Oblate Residence until 2023 when he moved to the Benedictine Living Community.
Preceded in death by his parents, as well as by his sister and brother-in-law, Mary Jo and Richard Inman, and his brother Robert, he is also survived by over 3500 Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in around 70 countries.
He is survived by his brother, Richard (Vicky) of O’Fallon, IL;
a sister-in law, Joan Kalert of Smithton, IL;
seven nieces and nephews;
and many cousins.
In lieu of flowers, donations for the missions of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate would be greatly appreciated. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Funeral: A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Church of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL.
The Mass of Resurrection will be streamed live on Friday March 22, at 10:00 a.m. central time. To watch go to either https://oblatesusa.org/ols-shrine/#h-shrine-masses, or on YouTube at: https://oblatesusa.org/ols-shrine/#h-shrine-masses
Fr. David donated his body to Saint Louis University Medical School so that future medical professionals might help save other lives.