Captain Hugo Koenraad Labrie

Death Notice – Captain Hugo Koenraad Labrie

With love and sadness we share the passing of Captain Hugo Koenraad Labrie, born 8 January 1935 in Fort de Kock, Sumatra, Dutch East Indies. Hugo passed away peacefully on 18 September 2025, at the age of 90.

Hugo’s childhood was marked by both hardship and adventure. He endured the war years in POW camps with his mother and sisters, while his elder brother was held in the men’s camp and his father imprisoned in Japan. After liberation, the family returned to Holland before making their way back to Medan, where Hugo embraced the freedom of school life in Indonesia.

He then followed his sense of adventure to sea, serving with Royal Interocean Lines and later Nedlloyd, rising to the rank of Captain. The ocean gave him friendships, challenges, and a lifetime of stories.

In later years Hugo made his home in Australia, moving from the sea to the land. There he found peace in farming, surrounded by animals of all kinds, and carried forward the qualities that defined him — a loving and gentle soul, with resilience and kindness.

Hugo leaves behind his loving wife, three sons and four grandchildren, who will continue to cherish his memory. He will be dearly remembered by family and friends across continents, and for the warmth, courage, and devotion he shared so freely.

– The Labrie Family