BAINS, Daljit Singh Bains

It is with great sadness that we share of the passing of Daljit Bains after living many years with Parkinson’s Disease. Daljit was predeceased by his parents, Chanan Singh Bains and Mohinder Kaur Bains (née Saroa) as well as his brother Amarjit Singh Bains and sister, Mohinder Kaur Heer (née Bains).

Daljit was born in India in 1945 prior to Partition and immigrated to Canada in 1970 with only a few hundred dollars to his name. He spent his first year working on a dairy farm in Abbotsford before making the move to Kelowna, which would remain his home for the next 50+ years.  Daljit worked at Gorman Brothers Lumber Ltd for one year and then transitioned to Crown Zellerbach (eventually becoming Tolko Industries). Daljit would remain with “The Mill” for the next 37 years where he was known to show up early, stay late, and take every shift of overtime that he was offered!

In 1974, Daljit returned to India to visit his family. This is when he married, Rupinder Mann, before returning to Kelowna where they would build their life. They went on to welcome their daughter Jassie and not long after son, Vik. Daljit was known for working tremendously hard, focused solely on providing for his family and ensuring his children could benefit from every opportunity available to them. He was also a loyal friend and was the first to lend a hand when it was needed.

Daljit was a simple man with simple pleasures. He loved good food and was known to fire up his BBQ all 12 months of the year. His specialties were steaks, pork chops, and chicken on the grill. The only thing he loved more than meat was Sweets! He didn’t meet a bowl of ice cream that he didn’t love, and fresh jalabees brought great joy! He even invented a dessert…savian with ice cream! Delicious! Daljit loved inviting friends to their home and sharing meals with them. Few things brought him greater joy. Over the years there would be countless delicious meals shared around the Bains table along with great laughter and deep friendship. The Bains kids’ friends were also always welcome and knew that while Mr.Bains might not say a lot, there were always chips in the cupboard and Coke in the fridge. Fellowship over food equalled love for Daljit and there was great love in the Bains home!

In addition to eating good food, Daljit loved caring for their home and yard. He built their home on Hall Road and ensured he was involved in as much as possible with its construction. He split wood faithfully every Summer to use as fuel for the wood stove all Winter. Daljit lovingly planted fruit trees and a large garden that he would tend with deep care until it became physically impossible for him to continue. Two of the cherry trees that he planted in 1980 continue to produce fruit today and have supplied more pounds of cherries that can be counted and have been enjoyed by more people than Daljit could have imagined.

Only one thing brought Daljit more joy than sharing great food and his big yard. That was his 3 Grandchildren, Mason, Abby, and Connor.  While Parkinson’s Disease slowed down his body so they would never know the physically strong, hard-working man who their grandfather had been, Mason, Abby, and Connor would know a grandfather whose face lit up whenever they walked into the room and who thought they could do no wrong. His patience with them and delight in them was endless. One marker of which was the grandkids being allowed to eat in the living room…on the couch!  A privilege that Jassie and Vik were rarely given and always laughed at when they saw their kids enjoying it.

Daljit will be very missed by his wife of almost 51 years, Rupinder Bains; their daughter Jassie Kakoschke (son-in-law Warren, granddaughter Abby), and son Vik Bains (grandsons Mason and Connor). He will also be deeply missed by his best friend Avtar Hundle and his wife, Kuldeep, and their sons Av (Amn and their daughter) and Sunny (Gabby).  Avtar and Daljit were best friends from the time they met when they both arrived in Canada.  Daljit was very affectionately known as Bains Uncle to Av and Sunny, and he loved them like family. Finally, Daljit is also mourned by his younger brother Hardev Singh Bains and younger sisters Narinder Kaur Khaira (née Bains) and Jasveer Kaur Goraya (née Bains) and his MANY nieces and nephews in India, England, and Norway. Daljit was so happy to have met Hardev’s son, Jagroop in 2024 when he visited from Norway as Jagroop was one of many born after Daljit had left India.

The Bains family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Kelowna General Hospital who cared for Daljit the last weeks of his life, with special thanks to Drs. Savedra, McKenna, McGowan and Jones. The Bainses would also like to express their gratitude to the staff at Mission Creek Landing, where Daljit lived the last two years of his life. Your kindness and care were so very appreciated. Finally, the Bains family would like to extend special gratitude to Dr. Derek Adam, Daljit’s family doctor. Dr Adam showed care far beyond the call of duty over the many years he treated Daljit and the Bains family appreciate him more than words can fully convey.