Surjit Singh Kang

We celebrate the life of Surjit Singh Kang “Surj” who passed away in Riverside CA, Thursday August 15th, 2024 at the age of 86.

Surjit was born March 11th, 1938 in the village of Kotla Shamashpur, India to Babu Singh Kang and Kartar Kaur Kang. Surjit had two sisters Amarjit and Harbans. Their father died when Surjit was 3, leaving their mother to raise her children with the loving support of the village.

After high school Surjit entered a formal teacher’s training program and taught elementary school and participated in military training where he ranked number one in the state of Punjab for Marksmanship.

At the age of 25 he left his homeland and moved to London, England in 1963. His first jobs included working in a speaker factory, he then became a double-decker bus driver in London. He continued to drive bus with his move to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1975, doing so on long distance routes. Upon his immigration to the US in 1984, Surjit displayed his entrepreneurial spirit and opened India Trading Company, a women’s apparel retailer, which he successfully ran for over 25 years in Southern California.

Surjit had a leading role in building the first Sikh Gurdwara in the Inland Empire and has been recognized for many other contributions to the local Sikh community. His hobbies and passions take many forms but can best be reflected by his choices to move and build a life in 4 different countries (US, England, Canada, and Mexico where he built a house in his 70’s and moved in 2012). Surjit was – above all – highly energetic and giving to his community. He served countless lives through his safe transit of thousands of people and the efforts he made to settle multiple families across the US, England and Canada from India. Families whom he continued to support through matchmaking (something he loved to do), jobs, and educational support.

Surjit’s trademark zest for life can also be evidenced in his constant need to travel and explore the world, be it taking his family (and others) on road trips across countries or taking his wife Evelyn on cruises and tours.

He was married to Pritam Kaur Kang, the mother to his three children, and is now survived by his wife Evelyn Kang, his 3 adult children Sukhpal, Harpal and Parmjit, his 3 grandchildren Selene, Clara and Sophia and his son in law Francois Odienne and daughter in law Cheri Dicerbo Kang.

Surjit’s viewing and cremation will be held Thursday, August 22nd, 2024 between 9 and 12:00 at the Corona Chapel of Thomas Miller, 1118 E. 6th Street, Corona, CA 92879.

This will be followed by a prayer service and lunch starting at 1pm at the Sikh Center of Riverside located at 16825 Mariposa Ave., Riverside CA 92504.

In lieu of flowers you are welcome to send donations in Surjit Kang’s honor to Inland Sikh Education Empire, 16825 Mariposa Ave., Riverside CA 92504.

To all whose spirit is moved by mountaintop ascents, we wish you well on your journeys and to remember Surjit fondly as you strive.