Sewa Singh

Sewa Singh – 70, from Knoxville, TN, passed away November 29, 2013. Sewa was born March 1, 1943 in Punjab, India. He came to the United States in September, 1966 to pursue his doctorate in Agronomy at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Almost immediately he started making friends that have lasted a lifetime. In 1969, he met Gail Hannah, a fellow student at UT from nearby Maryville, TN and after a most interesting courtship they were married in Maryville on June 12, 1971. By this time, Sewa had left his original field and had become a salesman for Cleveland Cotton Products, Cleveland, Ohio and worked for that company until he retired in September 2002. He became a Sales Manager for the company, yet kept his sales territory and was selected Salesman of the Year on two separate occasions. Sewa was a salesman that his customers never forgot due to his looks, presence, and wonderful accent….he was definitely unique for East Tennessee! But he enjoyed training and mentoring new salespeople to the company the most because it gave him the opportunity to help people accomplish their goals. Sewa and Gail were fortunate to have two wonderful children, the first child, Shawn, born in 1973 and the second, Renee, born in 1976. Sewa loved to have fun probably more than anyone else we ever knew! He always made those around him smile….especially the ladies. Sewa loved his family, gardening, and UT sports, especially Lady Vols basketball. He and his family were and still are loyal fans of the Lady Vols, travelling to many away games and being fortunate enough to know many of the Ladies and the coaching staff on a personal level. The Singh house was always open to these wonderful women [and their friends] and many of these Ladies are still their friends and call, email, text and come to visit any time they are in town. Sewa was of the Sikh religion and practiced his faith for many years in his home and in the homes of other Sikhs before there was a Sikh gurdwara [temple] in Knoxville. He also attended Gail’s christian church faithfully and he and Gail always worked hard to support and be respectful of each others’ religion. It was a unique and special blessing for both of them. One of Sewa’s dreams was to establish a Sikh community gurdwara [temple] in Knoxville. The closest one was in Nashville, TN and Sewa envisioned there being one in Knoxville one day. He believed that establishing such a place of worship was a gift that the current generations of Sikhs in Knoxville should give to the future Sikh generations. He began a campaign to raise money to buy or build a building for such a place of worship. He worked tirelessly and fought through many disappointments and in January 2011, a building right off Sutherland Ave on Washburn Road was purchased to house the Sikh Sangat [congregation] of East Tennessee. Sewa was one of the Founders of the gurdwara and was a truly faithful member. As he became sicker, going to the gurdwara on Sunday was his goal for the week. Sewa fought many health issues all related to diabetes but he never gave up. We would like to thank the wonderful and caring people of NHC-Knoxville who cared for Sewa during his last few weeks with us. They loved him and cared for him as if he were their family and we are eternally grateful. Sewa is survived by his wife of 42 years, Gail Hannah Singh; his son and daughter-in-law Shawn Hannah and Samantha Howell Singh; his daughter, Renee Kaur Singh; two beautiful granddaughters, Alexandria Kaur Singh and Loralei Lee Singh and grandson, Jase Clayton Singh; Ajit Samra (Sister) and Balwinder Samra (Brother-in-law) Kansas City, Kansas; Rajinder Kaur (Sister) and Kulbir Singh (Brother-in-law), India; Surinder Kaur (Sister) and Harbans Singh (Brother-in-law), India; Birinder Singh (Brother) and Lakhwant Kaur (Sister-in-law), Burtonsville, Maryland; Narinder Ghuman (Sister) and Gobinder Ghuman (Brother-in-law), McLean, Virginia; and Rajinder Kaur (Sister-in-law), India; many nieces and nephews both in the US, India, Germany, and Scotland; special ‘little brother’, Rupy Sawhney and his family, Knoxville, TN; and many special friends too numerous to mention. He is preceded in death by his parents, Harbakhash Singh and Jaswant Kaur and his brother, Kewal Singh. There will be a combination of services to celebrate Sewa’s life. We will begin with a Sikh service, Saturday morning, December 7 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sikh Sangat of East Tennessee gurdwara (temple), 704 Washburn Rd, Knoxville. That service will last approximately 2 hours and conclude with a simple meal being served at the gurdwara. Guests may arrive at anytime but are asked to be in their seat at the service by 12:15 p.m.. At 6:00 p.m. there will be a Christian service at Lake Hills Presbyterian Church, 3805 Maloney Road, Knoxville, TN followed by dinner and receiving friends, a time to fellowship with the family. The Rev. James McTyre will officiate. The family will also receive friends at their home the next day, Sunday December 8 from 9:00 until 2:00. Please attend any and all of these functions to remember and honor Sewa Singh. Contributions in Sewa’s honor may be made to the Sikh Sangat of East Tennessee, 704 Washburn Rd., Knoxville, TN 37916. Beginning Wednesday, December 4, Sewa will lie in state at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel for friends who may call at their convenience. Online condolences may be sent to www.rosemortuary.com.

Tributes

Sewa Singh

March 1, 1943 - November 29, 2013