Services set for Palatine father, son killed in Afghanistan

Services have been scheduled for Gary and John Gabel, the father and son from Palatine who were shot and killed in Afghanistan late last month.

Visitation for both Gary, 56, and John, 31, began Wednesday and will continue from 5- 9 p.m. Thursday at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights.

A Celebration of Life service will be held for Gary Gabel at 11 a.m. Friday at The Orchard Evangelical Free Church, 1330 N. Douglas Ave., Arlington Heights. Interment will be private.

Funeral services for John will be scheduled at a later date and internment will be private, according to his obituary.

John's wife, Theresa, was injured in the April 24 attack. Initially she was in Germany recovering from her injuries; it is unclear where she is now.

The Gabels were shot during an attack by an Afghan security guard at International Hospital in Kabul, where they had gone to meet pediatrician Jerry Umanos of Chicago, who also was killed.

Gary Gabel and his wife, Betty, had gone to Kabul to visit John, his wife, Theresa, and the couple's 1-year-old daughter, Laila.

“John's passion and the final years of his life were spent teaching and providing humanitarian aid in Kabul, Afghanistan,” his obituary read.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given for the benefit of Theresa and Laila Gabel to the Gary and John Gabel Memorial Fund, c/o American Chartered Bank, 700 W. Euclid Ave., Palatine, IL 60067.