Amy Jean Shaw grew up in Wales Wisconsin, one of two children born to Dave and Barb Wentworth. Her brother is Andy (Karly) Wentworth, Madison, WI. Amy loved gymnastics as a young girl. After years of training, she was part of a State Championship gymnastics team at Kettle Moraine High School. She competed and excelled in track as well. Amy was a gifted student who generated a love for the Spanish language in high school.
Amy attended UW – Lacrosse and majored in Spanish education. It was at UWL that her love for gymnastics gave way to the sport of climbing. She climbed in numerous Rocky Mountain ranges, midwest climbing locations and indoor climbing gyms throughout Wisconsin. Climbing was in her soul.
Teaching high school Spanish was her vocation. She was the “pied piper” of Spanish at Gillett High School as she connected with kids so well. Students learned how to salsa dance, experiment with Spanish/Mexican cuisine, decorate the day of the dead sugar skulls, and learn a second language all while wearing sombrero’s in class. Students loved her class, loved her creativity, and simply ended up loving her. Amy’s crowning achievement was leading Spanish trips to Costa Rica and Panama. She was at her best when giving her students the experience of a lifetime. Trabajo bien hecho Senora Shaw.
On Saturday, Nov. 15, 2003 Amy married Dave Shaw. She was the mother of four children: TJ, Derek, Benny and Josey. Amy excelled at motherhood and provided a loving and nurturing environment for her children. She was a basketball mom, baseball mom, softball mom, swimming mom, track mom, cross country mom, golf mom, and a sprint triathlon mom. Of course, Amy introduced each child to climbing at a young age. Being belayed while in diapers or in a car seat was a regular occurrence. She was a great mom from start to finish.
Amy’s most precious gift was her desire to be a “person for others”. She was a neighbor who was gracious and sharing, she hosted fabulous family gatherings. Amy took people climbing and taught them how to top rope, belay and tie knots. Amy tutored Spanish for kids in the neighborhood as well as other school districts. She was a sucker for the high school dance chaperone duty and for every student fundraiser coupon card that ever existed! She attended her students’ athletic events and fine arts performances no matter what else was on the calendar. She put everyone else’s needs ahead of her own. Even at the end of her battle with cancer, making others comfortable in her presence was what mattered most. What a valuable lesson she provided for all of us.
Amy found comfort in Psalm 30:5 “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning”. We first started internalizing this verse when Amy was diagnosed with metastatic cancer in 2019. This was the same time the University of Virginia men’s basketball team won the National Championship. Coach Tony Bennett used this verse as a response for his team’s first round NCAA tournament loss the year before and as a challenge for the upcoming Championship season. Amy and I were able to meet with Coach Bennett after a Virginia home game and he prayed with us for God’s grace unto Amy and for continual strength through the next chapter in her battle. It was a heartwarming moment for both of us.
Amy was a beautiful person. A daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, teacher and friend. If you knew her, you were infected with her spirit. She loved, she was loved, and now she rests in heavenly peace.
A celebration of Amy’s life will be held at Peace Lutheran Church, 1954 County Road U, Green Bay, on Friday, August 25, from 12:30-3:00 p.m. The funeral service will take place at 3:00 p.m. with Pastor Stuart Dornfeld officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to:
“Ribbon of Hope Foundation”, PO Box 5456, De Pere, WI 54115
“Sierra Delta”, 811 East Washington Avenue Suite 400, Madison, WI 53703
To leave a condolence for the Shaw family, please visit marnochafuneralhome.com or on the Marnocha Funeral Home Facebook page.