Joyce L. Laabs

Joyce Louise (Vogt) Laabs, Age 78, passed away peacefully at her home at Oak Terrace in LeSueur on Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

Joyce was born the oldest of 4 children on January 27, 1942.  She was born in St. Louis Park MN to Fred and Lillian Vogt. In her younger adult life, Joyce enjoyed being active in the St. Louis Park High School drama group where she played Mrs. Hollander in “Liliom”.  She was in Blue Tri, Pep Club, and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Joyce began her career as a secretary and had various secretarial jobs throughout her life. Joyce married Willard Laabs on October 21, 1967.  The couple built their first home Victoria, MN and lived there for 8 years before moving to a farm outside of Belle Plaine where they lived for 19 years. Later, Joyce and Willie moved to Elmore, MN where they lived for about 10 years.  At retirement, Joyce and Willie moved to a lake home in Rice, MN before finally moving back to the Belle Plaine area to be closer to their children.  Joyce was an active member in St. John’s Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine, Shiloh Lutheran Church in Elmore, MN and Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN.

As a young married couple, Joyce and Willie spent many weekends with friends and family at many of the local ballrooms dancing the night away! This was favorite for both of them and was where Joyce and Willie first met.

Joyce loved crafting, scrapbooking, reading, watching TV and playing games.  She was a great cook and often had fabulous suppers for the family.  Although it was not a hard recipe, one favorite meal was when she would make Macaroni and Cheese and add in SPAM!  The biggest love of Joyce’s life were her husband and her kids and grandkids.  Many memories were made swimming in the pool, taking pontoon rides and playing games at the lake home in Rice.

Another great love for Joyce was traveling.  This was often done with friends and family as well. They made several trips in the US to places like Hawaii, Branson, Texas, California and New York.  Out of the US they made several trips to Mexico, and cruises to Alaska and the Panama Canal.  Joyce and Willie spent 13 of their younger years as co-owners and operators of Saukinac Campground in Sauk Centre, MN.  Weekends and summers were spent entertaining campground guests.  

Forever loved and missed by her husband of 52 years, Willard; Children, Kerri Kabes of LeSueur, Angie (Terry) Kahle of Belle Plaine, Cameron Laabs of Aberdeen, South Dakota; Grandchildren Kailey (fiance’ Josh Wassing) Kabes, Jace and Kenzie Kabes, Lillianne and Addison Kahle, Jamie (Mason) Bleick, Cavin and Ethan Laabs.  Joyce will miss the birth of her first Great-Grandchild who is expected to arrive May 11th, 2020.

Joyce is preceded in death by her father, Fred G. Vogt, mother Lillian M. Vogt and brother Lyle Vogt. 

A celebration of Joyce’s life will be held at a later date due to the health restrictions by the CDC and Minnesota Dept. of Health.  Condolences can be left at Koldenfuneralhome.com and cards can be mailed to Kolden funeral home at 219 N. Willow Street, Belle Plaine MN 56011 and will be distributed to the family.

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