Harcharan Singh Sidhu

Harcharan was born on December 9, 1929, in Kakrala, Punjab, at his Nanke (maternal) village. He spent his early years in Fatehgarh village, Sangrur District, before moving with his family to Patiala, where he was raised alongside his five half-siblings.

He graduated from Mohindra College Patiala, and in 1952, married the love of his life, Sukhpal Kaur Mann. In 1955, Harcharan began his career with the government in Shimla, working under a British Colonel to assemble and install wireless transmission systems along Punjab’s borders—an assignment that shaped his work ethic and values, which were passed down to his family.

In 1960, Harcharan and Sukhpal moved to Hong Kong, where he joined a shipping company owned by his uncle, Sampoorn Singh Dhillon. His work took him to Japan in 1961, where he and his wife lived for a year before returning to Hong Kong. In 1964, they briefly returned to India for the birth of their son, Berinder (Bic) Sidhu. A year later, Harcharan was transferred to Liberia, West Africa, where he continued with the same company until 1970. During this time, his daughter Ravinder (Geetu) was born in 1967.

In 1970, Harcharan ventured into entrepreneurship, opening his own wholesale retail business in Liberia. In 1980, the family relocated to Los Angeles, California, although Harcharan continued to travel between the U.S. and Liberia, maintaining strong ties to both. In 1985, he purchased and successfully ran a supermarket in North Hollywood. After a long and fruitful career, he retired in 2001.

In 2002, the family moved to San Diego. The following year, he and Sukhpal returned to Patiala and spent the next two decades traveling between Patiala and San Diego, enjoying time with their children and grandchildren.

Harcharan will be remembered for his selfless deeds, kind soul, resilience, and devotion to his family. His life spanned continents and generations, and through it all, he remained humble, hardworking, and full of heart.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 74 years, Sukhpal Sidhu; his son and daughter-in-law, Bic & Khushdeep Sidhu; his daughter and son-in-law, Geetu & Gurdeep Johal; his four cherished grandchildren, Rachna, Ahjay, Aman, and Amar; and his four adored great-grandchildren, Inaya, Taajyn, Harliya, and Esharveer.

His legacy of love, dedication, and perseverance will live on through all those who knew and loved him.