Joyce Laabs

Joyce E. Laabs died peacefully on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at the age of 92, while residing at Legacy Village in Moultrie, Georgia.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 2:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. Hugh B. Ward and Rev Rick Douylliez officiating. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.

Born on January 13, 1933, in Thiensville, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of the late Reinhard Bublitz and Hilda Voigt Bublitz.

Joyce received her Bachelor of Library Science Degree at the age of fifty. She retired from working at the library at Waukesha County Technical College in 1999 and moved to Moultrie with her husband, Donald Laabs. She embraced Moultrie and Moultrie embraced her. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Moultrie and served as Moderator of the Women of the Church, Deacon, and was a founding member of the Cornerstones. While in Moultrie, she volunteered at the Clothing Bank and served on the Foster Care Review Panel. She was a member and officer of the Women’s Federated Guild.

Joyce loved the YMCA and her water aerobics family. She supported the Colquitt County Arts Center on and off the stage. Joyce will be remembered for her wit and sense of humor. She loved Tuesdays with Terry, parties, card games, road trips and activities with friends.

In addition to her parents, Joyce was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Donald O. Laabs, her sister Betty Jean Kirst, her brother William Bubiltz, her son-in-law Thomas Yogerst, grandchild Andrew Yogerst, and great-grandchild Korbin Rice.

Joyce is survived by her daughter, Charmaine Johnson, and husband, Terry Johnson, of Moultrie; daughter, Elisabeth Yogerst, of Green Bay, Wisconsin; brother, James Bublitz, and his wife, Bonnie; grandchildren, Brian Johnson, Jeff Johnson, Charlie Johnson, Brian Yogerst, and Amanda Rice; Great-grandchildren, Madigan Yogerst, Konner Rice, Kayla Johnson, and Samantha Johnson: and several nieces and nephews.

A special thank you to Hannah Autry at Legacy and Colquitt Regional Hospice.

Arrangements entrusted to Baker Funeral Home & Crematory.