In Memory
Amalie "Amy" Kaye (Clausen) Gertiser
Jun 23, 1978 - Apr 26, 2025
Amalie "Amy" Kaye Clausen Gertiser, 46, formerly of South Bend, Indiana, passed away on April 26, 2025. She was a beloved wife, daughter, friend, mentor, and guiding light to many. Amy's spirit was vibrant, kind, and endlessly generous, and her absence leaves a space that cannot be filled.
Amy was born in Detroit, MI on June 23, 1978, to Dr. Robert and Barbara Clausen. Four years later, the family moved to South Bend, IN. A proud graduate of LaSalle High School, she went on to attend the University of Notre Dame, where she earned her BA in Psychology and later her MA in Non-Profit Administration. In between, she earned her master's in social work from Case Western Reserve University, pursuing her deep calling to support and uplift others. As a licensed social worker, Amy provided grief counseling to children through Hospice of the Western Reserve, offering compassion and strength during their most vulnerable times.
Amy was a woman of many passions. She was deeply involved in the Cleveland fencing community and played a key role in helping her best friend Brian Stone found Two Ravens Fencing School, where she managed operations and coached epee. Her leadership and warmth were foundational to the school's community.
She also worked as general manager at Near West Theatre, playing a major part in their transition to a new theater home—an accomplishment that mirrored her lifelong love of the arts.
Amy's joy radiated most when she was in nature or with her loved ones. She loved camping and hiking and was proposed to by her husband Chris during a canoe trip through Quetico Provincial Park. The couple married in 2018. At home, Amy could often be found in her garden, dirt on her hands and a straw hat on her head or curled up on the couch with Chris and their two beloved grey cats, Faye and Morwen.
Amy's love of music stayed with her throughout her life—from singing in the liturgical choir to playing saxophone in the Notre Dame Marching Band. Her laugh was infectious, her smile unforgettable, and her heart always open to those in need.
Amy is survived by her devoted husband, Christopher Gertiser; her parents, Dr. Robert and Barbara Clausen; parents-in-law, Teresa and Gerald Gertiser; sister-in-law Emily Ellison and her husband Brandon; niece and nephew, Zoey and Corbin Ellison; and countless friends whose lives she touched.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 24, 2025, 2:00 PM at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 17195 Cleveland Road, South Bend, IN.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Amy's name to Friends of the Boundary Waters or Near West Theatre—two places that represent her love for the wild and the creative spirit.
We will miss her dearly, but Amy's legacy of love, laughter, and care will continue to bloom in the hearts of everyone she knew.
Posted online on May 21, 2025, Published in South Bend Tribune
05/23/2025 EJS
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