[1][2][3] Schünemann attended Gymnasium an der Wilhelmstraße (later Campe-Gymnasium) in Holzminden, where he acquired his Abitur in 1984.

After that he completed his training as an industrial clerk, before doing his basic military service in 1987/1988.

Preceding his election to the Landtag in 1994, he was employed as industrial clerk at Haarmann & Reimer GmbH (today Symrise) in Holzminden.

For several years he played Basketball at MTV Altendorf, reaching Bezirksoberliga of Lower Saxony.

Between 4 March 2003 and January 2013 he was Minister of the Interior and Sports of Lower Saxony and member of Bundesrat.