Joyce Laabs, longtime Lakeland Times journalist, passes Sept. 13 2011

Joyce Laabs, The Lakeland Times' longest-tenured and most remarkable journalist, died peacefully Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011, at home while surrounded by family and friends.

Known across the Lakeland area and state as one of the best and most prolific chroniclers of local events and history, Joyce was cut from the cloth of the pure journalist who loved to spin a great tale with a devotion to employer and a work ethic that left many a young reporter wondering from where she garnered her energy and spirit.

The Times and everyone who knew her, have lost a longtime friend, colleague, confidante, and lover of everything and everyone that make up a community.

There wasn't an event that Joyce didn't attend, there wasn't a profile she didn't hastily accept, there wasn't a feature story that appeared in this newspaper over the past 30-plus years that somehow didn't have her imprint.

And there wasn't an employee of this newspaper who wasn't touched somehow by her wit, her spirit or, at times, her sharp tongue.

As with all relationships, Joyce may have had disagreements, but always came back with a smile, a wink and a good word. She would get mad, but never stayed angry, knowing how to move on and live life to its fullest.

If ever someone's blood ran ink, it was hers. Joyce was an unwavering newspaperwoman whose stories seemed to always strike a chord of compassion. She was interested in other people's tales, and was relentless in transforming hundreds and hundreds of them into the written word.

One of Joyce's dearest friends, Cassie Hollatz, described her as "an institution to the area."

"She was someone who cared deeply about the people she interviewed and she enjoyed every day she spent at The Lakeland Times. She was a great friend, a funny, caring person - one that was always great to be around," Hollatz said.

To publisher Gregg Walker, Joyce was much more than an employee. For decades she was friends with his mother, Anita Lahti, and particularly his father, publisher Don Walker, with whom Joyce worked very closely at the newspaper.

"The Lakeland Times and the entire community has been fortunate to have had Joyce writing for us. She was, in my opinion, one of the finest writers in the Midwest," Walker said. "Her ability to capture people's stories and what made people special in our community will never be forgotten."

In addition to her weekly profiles about people from various walks of life, her feature stories about the happenings throughout the Lakeland area were always enjoyed by readers of The Times. In addition, for years she compiled the weekly "Back Thru The Times," an historical journey that took readers through past issues of the newspaper. Though she was known to complain about the task of completing Back Thru The Times, everyone knew deep down she was proud of her weekly trip down memory lane.

Joyce's years at The Lakeland Times spanned first from 1976-81. She and her husband, Stanley Laabs, moved to Arizona, where she worked at various places in public relations.

She and Stanley returned to their beloved Northwoods and she resumed writing at the paper in 1994.

Though the plaques in her office and through the halls of The Lakeland Times shine with her achievements, Joyce wasn't one to toot her own horn.

"She never really talked about her accomplishments - she was always in the present searching for a story, wanting to find some interesting person to interview," Lahti said.

Though Joyce didn't talk much about her life before The Lakeland Times, it is known that she was associate editor at The Arizonian newspaper in Scottsdale.

She had operated her own public relations agencies in Scottsdale.

She also lived in southern California, in San Diego and Los Angeles, where she made many connections in Hollywood.

A cherished photograph of Joyce with John Wayne is one small piece of evidence of what was likely an exciting scene in the 1960s.

Leafing through the overused Rolodex still in her office reveals an impressive - even astounding - list of phone numbers and addresses of movers and shakers, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Jimmy Stewart, Bob Hope, John Forsythe, Jonathan Winters and Glenn Ford (whom she once confessed to dating during her California era).

But that was the past, and she kept it to herself.

"She wasn't a bragger. She wasn't a name dropper. Joyce never made herself more important than the person she was interviewing," Walker said.

Shortly after she began working at The Lakeland Times in 1976, Joyce started the weekly Northwoods Nostalgia series.

Lahti had rescued all the old editions of The Times and had them bound in volumes. Joyce extracted from those pages, interviewed area figures for years and, in essence, constructed a Lakeland area historical showcase.

Eventually, the series and her profiles were compiled into books, "Northwoods Nostaglia, I and II," and "Up Close and Personal."

"Joyce wouldn't want to be known as a historian, but she left a beautiful gift to our community with all of her research. She's done us a tremendous service," Walker said.

Joyce was always guaranteed a job at The Lakeland Times, even when she took her leave of absence because of declining health.

"She kept insisting she was coming back to work, even up to a week ago," Walker said.

Her body of work was never enough. She always wanted to do more and it was her motivation. Her work inspired many and brought the community and its people to life.

She never missed a deadline ... even on the day she died. You see, it was a Tuesday, the day "her section," The Extra, went to press.

On cue, at 4:30 p.m., Joyce passed on just about the time the pages of that section were sent to press.

A celebration of Joyce's life was held Sunday, Sept. 18, 1 p.m., at Ascension Lutheran Church, Hwy. 51 S., Minocqua. The Rev. Dean Marin officiated.

The family invited friends to bring a favorite photograph, short story, or memento of Joyce to share at the reception following the service.

The reception venue was Matt Morgan's at 305 W. Park Avenue • Minocqua, WI.

Joyce was a strong advocate for the Lakeland Pantry and all donations in her name are appreciated.

Known across the Lakeland area and state as one of the best and most prolific chroniclers of local events and history, Joyce was cut from the cloth of the pure journalist who loved to spin a great tale with a devotion to employer and a work ethic that left many a young reporter wondering from where she garnered her energy and spirit.

The Times and everyone who knew her, have lost a longtime friend, colleague, confidante, and lover of everything and everyone that make up a community.

There wasn't an event that Joyce didn't attend, there wasn't a profile she didn't hastily accept, there wasn't a feature story that appeared in this newspaper over the past 30-plus years that somehow didn't have her imprint.

And there wasn't an employee of this newspaper who wasn't touched somehow by her wit, her spirit or, at times, her sharp tongue.

As with all relationships, Joyce may have had disagreements, but always came back with a smile, a wink and a good word. She would get mad, but never stayed angry, knowing how to move on and live life to its fullest.

If ever someone's blood ran ink, it was hers. Joyce was an unwavering newspaperwoman whose stories seemed to always strike a chord of compassion. She was interested in other people's tales, and was relentless in transforming hundreds and hundreds of them into the written word.

One of Joyce's dearest friends, Cassie Hollatz, described her as "an institution to the area."

"She was someone who cared deeply about the people she interviewed and she enjoyed every day she spent at The Lakeland Times. She was a great friend, a funny, caring person - one that was always great to be around," Hollatz said.

To publisher Gregg Walker, Joyce was much more than an employee. For decades she was friends with his mother, Anita Lahti, and particularly his father, publisher Don Walker, with whom Joyce worked very closely at the newspaper.

The Lakeland Times © September 16, 2011