Joyce C. Laabs, age 75, of Kandiyohi, passed away Tuesday, March 24, at Hilltop Health Care Center in Watkins.

Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. followed by her celebration of life service at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 6, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. Interment will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls. www.petersonbrothers.com

Joyce Carol Laabs was born on April 3, 1950, in Atwater, Minnesota, the daughter of Alfred and Muriel (Oslund) Kaderabek. Her earlier years were spent growing up in Kandiyohi County and later in the Litchfield community where she graduated from high school. On December 14, 1968, Joyce was united in marriage to Virgil Andrew Laabs. They lived in the communities of Atwater, Eden Valley, Hector, Grove City, and Kandiyohi. She worked hard as a homemaker and farm wife. Joyce later received her CNA certification from Willmar Vo-Tech and was employed for many years at area nursing homes. She loved and enjoyed caring for others. Joyce found pleasure in growing beautiful flowers and watching birds visit her feeders. She also grew and took care of home-grown vegetables. Strawberries were always her favorite. She enjoyed quiet time drawing beautiful flowers and designs. She cherished being a wife, mother, and especially a grandmother and was affectionately called “Nana” by her grandson, Alex.

She is survived by her daughter, Denise (and Scott) Kingery of Sartell; son-in-law, Dan Johnson of Andover; four grandchildren, Alex, Kolten, Mileigha and Tristen; and one sister, Linnae (and Alan) Paumen of Norwood Young America, besides other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil in January of 2026; her daughter, Kathy in 2018; one brother, Allen; and her parents.