In Memory
Karen Gerbasich Obituary
Karen Gerbasich, 72, of Lakeville, Indiana, was born on March 14, 1954, to the late Richard and Sarah Poyser (LaFollette). She passed away on August 29, 2026, at the Ernestine M. Raclin House in Mishawaka. Family members and close friends sat bedside as Karen gently transitioned from this earthly life to be greeted by her Savior Jesus Christ. Cherishing her kind and giving spirit are her husband of 46 years, Mark, their son Michael (Mary) and daughter Nicole (Kevin); Karen was known as “Bucca” to her grandchildren, Greyson, Avery, and Amelia. Her siblings Rick Poyser, Jim Poyser (Patricia) and Pam Poyser (Allen) were honored to witness their beloved sister’s journey toward relief, after over three years of heroically fighting cancer with God by her side.
Family meant everything to Karen. She was eager for her Sunday talks with son Michael and never missed a “good morning” or “good night” text with daughter Nicole. Bucca had an unbreakable bond with her grandkids. She loved watching “Press Your Luck” with Greyson, hangouts with Avery, and backrubs with Amelia. She was a constant, joyful presence in their lives.
Karen was blessed to have a large cadre of friends dating all the way back to her early years. She and friends enjoyed a close connection through birthday celebrations, group trips, pool days, and lots of laughter.
It is impossible to know how many lives were influenced by Karen’s generous nature. She embodied an extraordinary combination of practicality and compassion for others, which she practiced as a granddaughter, daughter, sibling, friend, wife, mother, and grandmother. Her character traits made her an extraordinary registered nurse and nursing instructor.
She graduated from Saint Mary’s College in 1980 with her nursing degree and worked at St. Joe Hospital in the critical care unit. Though she impacted many lives at the bedside, she was called to serve others in an even greater way as a nursing instructor at Ivy Tech College. Students described her as patient, kind, professional, and supportive.
In 2017, she received Ivy Tech’s President's Award for Excellence in Instruction. In a video Ivy Tech created to honor Karen, she said: “I feel like nursing is a calling and a passion… I felt that same thing in teaching, that not only could I take care of one patient, I could influence hundreds over the years to be able to take care of those patients…. What I hope is that they show their love through nursing, that they keep their compassion.”
She retired in 2020, and her legacy continues through the many students she taught.
During her hospitalization and then her final stage at the Raclin Hospice House, numerous nurses noted to the family that they were either students of or colleagues of Karen, or had heard the legend of Karen. They always say doctors make terrible patients. Apparently, when it comes to Karen, nurses make perfect patients. Numerous times, these professional caregivers noted how honored they were to be caring for her — a way of giving back to this incredibly generous person who never asked for anything in return.
Memorial visitation for Karen will be held from 10am-12pm on Friday September 4, 2026 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 56405 Mayflower Rd. South Bend. Nursing honor guard will perform honors beginning at 11:45 am and Mass will begin at 12pm.
In honor of her lifelong dedication to nursing and nursing education, memorial contributions may be made to the Indiana Center for Nursing Scholarship Fund 9302 North Meridian Street, Suite 365 Indianapolis, IN 46260. As a longtime nurse educator, she devoted her career to preparing future nurses, and gifts made in her memory will help support the next generation of Indiana nursing students.
Online condolences may be sent via the Palmer Funeral Homes website at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com
To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.
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