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Thousands honor Wisconsin Sikh Temple victims in Oak Creek

OAK CREEK (AP) — Thousands of mourners pay their final respects Friday to six worshipers gunned down at a Sikh temple in suburban Milwaukee over the weekend.

Organizers initially allocated two hours for a wake and visitation at a nearby high school, but they extended that by two hours to accommodate mourners who traveled from abroad and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder as a last-minute speaker. Other dignitaries expected to attend the funeral include Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan.

Amardeep Kaleka lost his father Satwat Singh Kaleka, the Temple President. Satwat’s teachings live on through the journal he left behind.

After the funeral, mourners plan to return to the Sikh

Temple of Wisconsin where the shootings took place Sunday morning. There a series of priests will read the Sikh holy book from cover to cover in a traditional rite honoring the dead called “Akhand Path.” That process takes 48 hours.

“We want to pay homage to the spirits who are still in there,” said Harpreet Singh, a nephew of one of the victims.

Federal investigators might never know for certain why 40-year-old Wade Michael Page chose to attack total strangers in a holy place. What they know is that the Army veteran opened fire with a 9 mm pistol at the temple, shortly before Sunday services were due to begin.

Page killed five men and one woman, and injured two other men. Authorities say he then ambushed the first police officer who responded, shooting him nine times and leaving him in critical condition. A second officer then shot Page in the stomach from about 75 feet away, and Page took his own life with a shot to the head.

The officer who was injured, Oak Creek Police Lt. Brian Murphy, was upgraded Thursday to satisfactory condition.

The dead included:

- Satwant Singh Kaleka, 65, the temple president who was shot as he tried to fend off Page with a butter knife. Satwant Singh Kaleka died defending the Gurdwara he built, attempting to fend off a gunman who attacked worshippers Sunday, family members said. He was born June 2, 1947, in Kaleki Dugal, Punjab, India. Satwant Singh came to the United States in 1982 with $100 in his pocket and worked tirelessly to give back to others, build a solid foundation and future for his family, as well as build a vibrant Sikh community in the south of the city. His tireless dedication and commitment to the Sikh community and religion, as well as his deep seeded and unshakable faith, kept him resilient, despite the endeavor. He was the go-to man in every situation, for many.

Satwant Singh spearheaded the growth of the congregation, and has been president of the church since 1996. He leaves behind his wife, two sons and three grandchildren. Satwant Singh was a fearless, selfless, and dedicated protector of his temple, community, and loved ones, and he played that role until his very last breath. He dedicated his life to the church, faith, and Sikh religion, and would not have had it any other way, even to his dying day.
- Ranjit Singh, 49, and his 41-year-old brother, Sita Singh, two priests whose families were back in India and whose lives in America revolved around their faith; Ranjit Singh, brother of Sita Singh, moved to New Delhi after he completed his education and moved to the United States in 1997. He was an active member of his community, committed himself to volunteer work and played tabla during religious ceremonies. He is survived by his wife and children who currently reside in India. One of his sons, Gurvinder Singh, was seven months old when Ranjit Singh left his home in Delhi, India. 16 years later, his son hoped to see his father return to Delhi this November. Ranjit Singh worked various jobs on weekdays, sending what money he could home to his wife and family, hoping to secure a more stable future for his family in the future.
- Sita Singh, was born November 15, 1970, was the younger brother of Ranjit Singh, from the Dalu Wala Majpata village. He moved to New Delhi after completing his education, and then transitioned to the states in New York City. He was known as a tough and dedicated man who was very easy to talk to. He is survived by his wife and four children. Sita Singh was dedicated to all duties of the temple, such as including cutting the grass on the property and trimming the bushes. He led morning services every day around 5 a.m. Sita Singh lived in the temple where his brother had once served as a longtime priest, and his life ended there as well.
- Suveg Singh Khattra, 84, a former farmer in India who was a constant presence at the temple; Suveg Singh Kattra was born on July 6, 1928 in Patiala, Punjab, India. Suveg Singh made his living by farming and decided to emigrate to the United States in 2004. Suveg Singh was a strong and devout man who was very devoted to his gurdwara and faith. He will be remembered by those around him for his punctuality in everything he did, and is survived by his five children and seven grandchildren. Suveg Singh lived with his family and was known to come to the temple early in the morning and stay through the evening. He will be immensely missed at his granddaughter’s wedding in Haryana, India, this December. Infinite sadness has filled her heart, knowing her grandfather won’t be there to see her get married.
- Prakash Singh, 39, a priest who was remembered as a fun-loving personality who enjoyed telling jokes; Prakash Singh was born on November 1, 1972 and was from New Delhi, India. He was known by his friends and family for being a very caring and hard-working man. He emigrated to the United States in 2005. A prayer leader at the Sikh Gurdwara of Wisconsin for about six years, Prakash Singh had gone to India in June, returning with his wife, 11-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter. He is survived by his wife and two children. He reunited with his family just 45 days ago, after 7 years.
- Paramjit Kaur, 41 who worked 66 hours a week to provide for her family, but also found time to pray every day for at least an hour.  Paramjit Kaur Saini was the only woman killed in Sunday’s shooting at the Sikh Gurdwara in Wisconsin. Born on April 25, 1971, she is survived by her two sons, 20-year old Kamaljit Singh Saini and 18-year old Harpreet Singh Saini. She was a weekly presence at the gurdwara, as her faith stemmed deep in the Sikh religion. Paramjit K came to pray and serve every Sunday and Thursday. She was a very selfless woman, always putting her husband and sons first, beyond anything.

While they are no longer with us, and we all feel the loss of these brave and proud souls, we must not forget their dedication to Sikhi and the fearlessness they displayed. They must remain a shining example for how Sikhs should act and help us keep renewed sprirts of Chardhi-kalla.

The FBI roped off the temple for four days while agents conducted their investigation. They handed the keys back to Sikh leaders Thursday morning. Workers then spent the day cleaning up, repairing bullet damage, shampooing carpets and repainting walls to rid the temple of traces of the carnage.

 

 


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