A prayer service for Richard M. Gaebel, 68, Michigan Avenue, will be at 10:15 a.m. Saturday at Cummings Funeral Service, followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Church.

Burial will be at the family's convenience.

Mr. Gaebel died Tuesday morning at St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center, Syracuse, where he had been a patient since Oct. 17.

Calling hours will be 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

He was a New York state trooper from 1963 until his retirement from Troop D, Watertown, in 1979.

He was owner of Gaebel Photographics from 1984 to 2005, was an insurance agent for the Knights of Columbus for a few years and was in prison ministry at Dannemora from June 1989 to 1991.

Mr. Gaebel was a communicant of Holy Family Church, a member of the National American Legion Post 1 and the Black Horse Chapter of the New York State Retired Troopers and a former third-degree member of Knights of Columbus Council 259.

On Oct. 5, 1985, he was ordained a deacon in the Diocese of Ogdensburg at St. Mary's Cathedral, Ogdensburg, by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana.

He enjoyed fishing and golf, the outdoors, nature and taking wildlife photos.

Born Aug. 11, 1940, in Gananoque, Ontario, son of William R. and Beulah Mansfield Gaebel, he attended schools in Fulton and graduated from Hannibal High School. He attended Jefferson Community College, and graduated in 1963 from the New York State Police Academy, Albany.

He entered the Navy Reserve on Nov. 5, 1957, and was called to active duty Dec. 2, 1959. He served aboard the USS Bushnell in Key West, Fla., until his discharge from active duty on Nov. 26, 1961. He was discharged from the Reserve on Nov. 4, 1963.

He married Sharron R. Toth

on April 25, 1964, at St. Mary's Church, Massena, with Monsignor Arthur M. Leary officiating.

Surviving besides his wife are two daughters, Kathy Rose Gaebel, Rodman, and Deanna L. Gaebel, Watertown; two sons and their wives, Richard J. and Heather S., Carthage, and Joseph S. and Cheri C., Whitesboro; an adoptive brother, Robert Gaebel, address unknown; two grandchildren, two nephews and several cousins.

A brother, Joseph, died at birth, a sister, Millicent, died in infancy, and a brother, William M., died in 2006.

Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Memorial Processing Center, P.O. Box 7, East Syracuse, N.Y. 13057; American Diabetes Association, Syracuse Chapter, 356 N. Midler Ave., Syracuse, N.Y. 13206, or a charity of one's choice.