SARDAR DIWAN SINGH DHANJAL

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SARDAR DIWAN SINGH DHANJAL It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Sardar Diwan Singh Dhanjal who passed away peacefully while immersed in the recitation of the holy Sikh prayers, surrounded by his family and close friends, at the Seven Oaks Hospital 9:00 a.m. on August 28, 2011. He is survived by his wife Naginder (RN), two sons Permjeet (MD) (husband to lawyer Pardip), Pritpal (B.Sc. Pharmacy), granddaughter Victoria, sisters Seeta, Satpal and Soma along with numerous loving nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents Kartar Kaur and Amar Singh, brothers Tarlochan, Harbans, Naranjan, and sister Vidya. Diwan was born April 7, 1934 at Gurdaspur, India. He was the eldest child of his parents. Throughout the hardship of India's partition, responsibilities fell early on his young shoulders and he shared in the burden of supporting and educating his dad's large family. Thereafter, he began an illustrious career with the Indian Railways and in 1965 went to Prague, Czechoslovakia for training as a Pattern Maker. In 1968 he immigrated to Canada, briefly living in Toronto and later making Winnipeg his permanent home. At the age of 45 he retrained at Red River College to become a Power Engineer and was gainfully employed by the Federal Government of Canada until his retirement in 1999. He was a loving husband, devoted father and a proud grandfather. He was a true Sikh who modeled his life after the wise teachings of the ten Sikh Gurus. He was proud of his heritage and openly and fearlessly advocated the principles of equality, fraternity, peaceful co-existence and universal brotherhood. He placed a strong emphasis on value of education to his children and family. He, being an early member of the first generation of East Indian immigrants to Winnipeg had in him the spirit of a pioneer. He was a pious, humble and good-natured man. He enjoyed reading and doing the daily crossword puzzles. He was well travelled and made pilgrimage to the many holy Sikh shrines / gurudwaras of India and Pakistan. He enjoyed the music of Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, Gurbani and Jazz. He was a worldly man who was able to converse with friends on all topics with conviction and wisdom. He was fond of long walks at Assiniboine Park. He lived and died as a man of peace in peace and was well loved and respected by all who knew him. Funeral services will take place at Thomson In the Park Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd. at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 3 followed by a religious service at the Ramgarhia Sikh Centre at 466 Archibald at 4:00 p.m. THOMSON IN THE PARK 925-1120 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsoninthepark.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 01, 2011