Krishan Tejpal

Krishan Lall Tejpal was born in Rampur, in the District of Sialkot, in pre-partition India.

He was the only son of Harbans Lal and Puran Dai Tejpal.

His early life was simple and carefree. He enjoyed his early school years, walking to school with his grandmother, playing with his sister and being with family until the time of Partition, when he and his family were uprooted from their home and eventually settled in Amritsar Punjab.

Despite this upheaval, he finished high school in 1949. He went on to complete his Bachelors in Math at Khalsa College, Amritsar in 1952, and his Masters in Math at DAV College in Jalandhar in 1954. He began his career teaching Math at the Hindu College in Amritsar for a short while before he joined as a teacher at the DAV College in Amritsar. While there he was asked to join the National Cadet Corps as an Officer, which he did without hesitation.

In 1961 he married Anita Tara, his loving, life-long partner. His very dear cousin Jagadish Prabhakar, who had moved to the US a few years earlier persuaded him to join him in the States. After careful consideration, he decided to make the move. On the day he was to leave, his first son, Yogesh (Sonny) was born on 9/1/1964.

He came to the US that 9/1964 and started his PhD at IIT in Chicago. It was a difficult time but with hard work and many struggles he was able to save enough money to bring his wife, Anita and his son, Sonny, to the US in August of 1966, where they lived in an apartment at IIT.

In the midst of his PhD, he told his Department Head that he needed a job to support his family, and he could no longer continue his studies. He was promptly offered a job and he stayed. While at IIT his second son was born, Rajeev (Raju) on 5/6/1969. Within a short time, he found a job as an Assistant Professor at City Colleges of Chicago, the Loop College (present day Harold Washington). He became a Full time Professor there and stayed until he Retired. He also worked part-time at Loyola University, Malcolm X College and De Paul University for many years.

It is during this time that he received heartbreaking news that his father had passed away in May 1970. He knew being the eldest and only son, many responsibilities fell on his shoulders, but he took them on with strength and pride. He was a brother but also became a Father figure to his sisters and over the years helped them move to the US.

In the early '70's, he moved to an apartment in Forest Park, for about 3-4 yrs. He decided he was going to build his own house in Lombard. They moved to their new home around March 1, 1975, where his 3rd son Ashish (Ashu) was born on 4/8/1977.

During his lifetime, he developed so many lifelong friendships, starting in Amritsar. He not only became friends with his colleagues, but also with his students. His community of friends continued to grow at IIT, Forest Park and in Lombard. Many who knew him, knew they could count on him for support be it emotional or financial. He had many interests, he started investing in Real Estate, he loved to travel. He believed strongly in giving back to the Community with donations to various organizations and committing his time and energy to the Hari Om Mandir.

Most of all he loved his family, immediate and extended. He had many cousins, nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews that he cherished.

He will always be remembered for his warm, endearing smile and his positive, good natured, kind personality that attracted many into his life. Krishan Tejpal was preceded in death by his father and Mother (Harbans Lal and Puran Dai Tejpal); he is survived by his wife Anita, his son, Sonny, and his wife, Shefali; his sons, Raju and Ashu; his grandchildren Shaan, Jai, Nikash and Anish, his 3 sisters, Bimla Sharma (late Keval Sharma), Parvesh Sharma (late Satish Sharma), Raman Sharma (Vijay Sharma) their children, and grandchildren whom he loved dearly.

The Family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Hari Om Temple in Medinah, and to DuPage PADS, a homeless shelter.

Visitation and Time of Remembrance , Saturday, February 14, 2026 9:00AM to 12:00PM at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice, Illinois.

Cremation Rites to be accorded.