Kapal Dev Sharma

Kapal Dev Sharma was born in Amritsar, India on July 22, 1933. He grew up as 1 of 8 children alongside his extended family. His whole life he was known for his kindness, his welcoming nature, and his bright smile.

At the age of 25, he sailed from India to Scotland with only £5 in his pocket to start a new life. While the journey was long, he was a perpetual optimist, always describing his month on the ship as one of the best of his life. He eventually ended up in Birmingham, where he opened up his shop JJ Malcolms in 1962. With his shop established he then set out to find his “Mrs Malcolm,” marrying Kamlesh on April 15, 1966 in Delhi. Together, they went back to England and had their two children Annu and Mannu shortly after.

He was a dedicated father. His early years with his children were filled with Sunday visits to see Bollywood films at the local cinema and day trips as a family to explore nearby towns and beaches. His weeks would always end with his famous card parties where he and his friends would gather, playing cards for hours each Sunday for the next 40 years. Annu went on to graduate medical school and Mannu earned his PhD in engineering, fulfilling their father’s wishes for both his children to become doctors.

He will be dearly missed by his 4 grandchildren Niki and Riya (daughters of Annu) and Rishi and Roan (sons of Mannu). They fondly remember spending hours sitting in his lap reading books, running around his shop while he worked, and playing round after round of cards together. He spent his life as a grandfather traveling down to London and across an ocean to Wisconsin multiple times a year so that he could spend time with his loved ones, eventually following his children and grandchildren and moving to the States himself.

He loved to share stories about the many trips to India that he took with his wife later in life. From traveling the slopes of Kullu Manali to navigating the palaces of Rajasthan, he enjoyed every moment he had to explore his home country.

He is remembered as bringing light to every room with his radiant presence, effortlessly making those around him feel welcome. Every person that met him remembered him fondly and he gave those who knew him a blueprint for how to live life with a positivity and gratefulness that was unmatched. His home was always open to anyone who needed it and he ensured they felt as if it was their home, too. His selfless love touched many hearts and has left behind beautiful memories. He will be missed by his family and friends.

A visitation will be held on October 26, 2025 at 9:00 am at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel, Peoria with a religious ceremony to follow from 9:40 am to 10:40 am.