Abel J. Gagnon, age 85, of Troy, Illinois died, Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at Anderson Hospital, Maryville, IL.

Mr. Gagnon was a member of, and former Deacon of Bethel Baptist Church, Troy, IL. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Shriners in Maine. Abel was proud of retiring three times, first as a Civil Service employee at Loring Air Force Base in 1985, from Abel Electric in 1989 and in 2001 from Triad School District as a school bus driver. He had a great sense of humor and loved his family, and especially the time he spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Watching Cardinal baseball was a great passion, and he was very proud of being a lifelong Democrat.

Mr. Gagnon was preceded in death by his parents Bert and Elizabeth (Byron) Gagnon; and a brother Leonard Gagnon.

He is survived by his wife Leda (nee Johnston) Gagnon of Troy, IL, whom he married March 29, 1948; his children Bert E. (Nicholas Kalfas) Gagnon of Troy, IL; and Marion (Mark) Wade of Marine, IL; grandchildren, Michael (Jessica) Wade, Joshua Wade and Rachel Wade; great-grandchildren, Reilly and Harper; brother, Edgar (Theresa) Gagnon of Caribou, ME and sister Irene (John) Cyr of Fort Kent, ME.

Memorials may be made to Bethel Baptist Church Missions Program.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, 2011 at the Laughlin~Richeson Funeral Home and from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, July 29, 2011 at Bethel Baptist Church, Troy, IL.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Friday at Bethel Baptist Church, with the Rev. Tim Lewis officiating. Interment will be in the Marine City Cemetery, Marine, IL.

LAUGHLIN~RICHESON FUNERAL HOME
Troy, Illinois