Irene Emma Labat

Mass of Christian Burial for Irene Labat, 103, of Marshall, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 5, 2025, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Visitation will be Sunday, May 4, from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Marshall, with a rosary at 4:00 p.m. and a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue from 9:00 until 10:00 a.m. on Monday at the Remembrance Center. Interment will follow the service at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Marshall.
Irene Emma Vercruysse was born on September 5, 1921, to Gentiel & Marguerite (Doise) Vercruysse, in a farmhouse near Amiret, the 3rd of 6th children. She grew up on the farm, walking across fields to attend school through the 8th grade. She enjoyed dancing in Marshall and Ghent and roller skating in Lynd during her youth. When she grew up she wanted to "be herself or be a teacher". Her parents always thought she was going to be a "nun". That changed when she met the love of her life, Pete Labat. They were married on Feb. 12, 1947, after he returned from serving in World War II. They were able to share 74 years of married life together raising two daughters and a son.
Pete and Irene began their life together working side by side farming by Wood Lake and later purchased a farm south of Marshall where Irene's brother, George, had built them a house. Together they milked cows, churned their own butter and raised pigs, chickens, ducks, a horse, dogs, cats and any other pet she could love. Irene loved to socialize and made many new friends as she delivered her eggs to all the schools in Marshall along with several other customers. Her love of the outdoors and pride in what they owned showed as there was never an unpainted building or fence, or a weed in the flower beds or her huge garden and always a clean well kept house. Anyone who knew her knew she was an excellent cook and baker. You were not going to leave their home without a full course home cooked meal. She was especially famous for her Cloverleaf buns and homemade pies. All the grandkids ever wanted for a present from grandma were "grandma's cloverleaf buns". Irene would spend her spare time crocheting afgans, and dishcloths for the entire family. She would even crochet around the edge of her hankies, to which she always had one in her pocket.
Irene was also a very lucky lady taking pride in one of her most rewarding winnings, her Model T toy car. She used it a lot to bring lunch out to the field both morning and afternoon during planting and harvesting time. She also was a very avid Bingo player and would usually win as long as she had #75 in the lower right hand corner of her card. If offered a ride to the casino, she would be ready in a heartbeat and was usually lucky there too.
Upon retiring from the farm, Pete and Irene moved to their home in Marshall where she continued to raise a beautiful flower garden as well as her green thumb for indoor plants. They continued to be active in square dancing, playing rolle bolle and bean bags and being in many card clubs. Her love of cards continued, playing 500 Rummy, until the week before she passed. She could add up her score like a pro telling you "she likes to win" with a smile and she was a tough one to beat. Irene was always ready for a good time or a practical joke.
Pete and Irene later moved to Boulder Estates and after Pete's passing, she moved to Boulder Creek. The three most important things to Irene were God, her loving family and health. We are thankful for the life she gave us.
Irene died peacefully at the age of 103 at Boulder Creek on Thursday, April 24, 2025. She is survived by daughter Joyce (Dick) Persoon of Marshall, grandchildren Scott (Kim) Persoon and Stacy (Jeff) James; daughter Pat (Ron) Persoon of Tyler, grandchildren Carissa (Greg) Redenius and Stephanie (Justin) Habel; son Larry (Jolene) Labat of Marshall, grandchildren Jordan and Brandon Labat; great-grandchildren Hanna (fiance Michael), Benett, Gracelynn, Landyn, Kylee, Austin (Melissa), Kayla, Brynlee, Everly, Foster, Willa and Bodie; great-great-grandchildren; sister Jeanette Halbur and sister-in-law Marie Vercruysse; and many nieces and nephews.
Irene was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband Pete, brothers George, Paul, and Joe Vercruysse, sister Mary Dieken, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
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