OBITUARY: SUCHA “BOB” SINGH BAGRI

BabajiPassport (1)SUCHA “BOB” SINGH BAGRI

 

Longtime Kamloops resident, Sucha “Bob” Singh Bagri, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 9 at the age of 89.

Sucha was born in the small village of Chak Kalan in India on January 26, 1926.  He first came to Canada in the winter of 1935 and attended school just outside of Ladner.  He became friends with many of his classmates, with whom he spent decades exchanging Christmas cards.

He returned to India to marry Chanan Kaur Sidhu in 1941. He travelled back and forth between India and Canada for years, worked in the sawmills, as an owner of a furniture business, and as an entrepreneur.

In May of 1967, his entire family was able to join him in Kitimat, after which they settled in Kamloops in August of 1968.  Sucha was an integral member of the Kamloops Sikh community, where he was a leader in helping many new Punjabi families get settled into Canadian life and always welcomed them into his home.

Sucha Singh Bagri was featured in Mehfil Magazine’s “100 Year Journey” for his contribution to the South Asian community.

Sucha will always be remembered for his generosity, hospitality, cheerful smile and loving nature. He is survived by his devoted wife of 74 years, Chanan Kaur Bagri; five children: Tarsame (Erica) Bagri, Gurmej (Kashmir) Janda, Baxsho (Bahader) Johal, Gurmail (Kewaljit) Bagri and Surinder (Parmjit) Bagri; 15 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Swarn (Salinder) Sidhu, and numerous close family members and friends.

A special thank you to all the doctors, care aides and nurses that helped take care of Bob over the years.

A gathering to celebrate Sucha’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 16 at Schoening Funeral Service Ltd., 513 Seymour Street, Kamloops. Bhog ceremony and prayer will follow at the Sikh Temple, 700 Cambridge Crescent, Kamloops.

For further information, please contact Gurmail Bagri at (250) 376-0774.