Harbans Singh Randhawa

On March 6, 2026, Harbans Singh Randhawa passed away peacefully at home in Surrey, BC with his wife and daughters by his side. He was born August 6, 1936, in Pandori Gola, District Amritsar, Punjab, India to the late Sardar Inder Singh Randhawa and Sardarni Bhan Kaur Randhawa. The 9th of 10 children, he was the senior living member of the Randhawa family and is survived by his younger sister, Mohinder Kaur Grewal.

Harbans grew up in a traditional Punjabi farming village where hard work and family unity were deeply ingrained. His unwavering faith in Waheguru and commitment to the Sikh principles of living an honest life and helping others was the foundation of his life choices.

As a young man he joined the family businesses at Randhawa Airways and Randhawa Motors where he developed a love of machinery and airplanes. He could fix just about anything and became an avid pilot.

Over his life, Harbans experienced the loss of many, often in tragic circumstances. He took on familial responsibilities at a young age, always with a vision to move the next generation of the family forward.

In 1968 he immigrated to Canada, the first member of the family to do so. He worked as a heavy duty mechanic in the mining industry, allowing him to fulfill his passion for travel. He lived in Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver, Haida Gwaii and ultimately settled in the Yukon Territory. He became a steward of Canadian values, impressed by the beauty and the opportunities Canada afforded to all.

In February of 1981, Harbans was introduced to Jasbir Gill. An arranged marriage by every definition, it was also the beginning of a beautiful love marriage. Harbans would later tell of being charmed by Jasbir’s bubbly personality and her stunning eyes.

In May of 1981 Jasbir joined Harbans in the Yukon where they lived until 2005 before moving south to BC. Their marriage was rooted in faith, mutual respect and a shared commitment to bettering those around them. Their experience in the Yukon as an immigrant family is featured in Hidden Histories: https://hhsy.org/project/randhawa-family/

Harbans and Jasbir welcomed daughters, Grace, Jessica and Jasmina. Fatherhood came naturally to Harbans and his daughters were the biggest joy of his life. He stressed academics and hard work but also took time to play hide and seek and build sledding hills while also watching his daughters fashion shows and braiding their hair. He loved spontaneous family road trips, eating ice cream and going out for a good steak or a Big Mac.

As his children grew, he evolved with them, his relationship with each daughter transforming into a special friendship. With a steadfast presence and his signature directness, he urged them all to be independent and pursue lives that aligned with their talents and desires. He formed a similar relationship with son-in-law Patrick when he joined the family in 2008, though would jokingly tell him he was on permanent probation. He derived great satisfaction from his children’s lives and loved being Nanaji and Dadaji. Well into his 80’s Harbans cared for his grandsons Arjun and Asher, changing diapers and pushing strollers. They lit the sparkle in his eye and he was his most playful and joyous with them.

The impact his life had on others is immeasurable, he moved through the world with humility and a positive mindset. He had a gift for making people feel valued. He listened carefully and taught patiently.

He loved to tell stories, playfully make jokes and laugh until it was hard to breathe. He made the world's best cha and served it to his daughters and wife every morning until he was no longer able to.

In the final three years of his life, Harbans was diagnosed with vascular dementia, eventually losing the ability to speak. He maintained his calm and playful demeanor until his final days. He continued to be deeply spiritually grounded and showed his love by inviting you to join him under his quilted blanket as he sat in his favourite spot.

Harbans is survived by his wife Jasbir, their 3 daughters, Grace (Patrick), Jessica and Jasmina (Jeremy), and his beloved grandsons Arjun and Asher.

The family would like to thank his at-home caregivers, Dr. Kamaljit Sekhon and his team, Sukhi Sran and his team at Universal Pharmacy and the Fraser Health Palliative Home Care Program for the care and compassion they showed Harbans and our family. May Waheguru bless his soul.

All are welcome to attend the funeral service and cremation at Victory Memorial Park & Funeral Centre in Surrey on Friday March 13, 2026. The public viewing will be at 10am and the funeral at 11am. Antim Ardas and Langar will follow at Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that you make a donation to your local women’s shelter.