Obituary of Muhammad Sadiq Saleemi
June 1, 1937 - Gujrat, Pakistan
November 30, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta
Mohammad Sadiq Saleemi, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at Peter Lougheed Hospital in Calgary, AB, on November 30, 2022, at the age of 85 years. Everyone who knew Muhammad felt his big heart and giving nature. He will be missed especially by his grandchildren, with whom he spent countless hours swing and stroller pushing, chasing, playing spelling, encyclopedia and mathematics games and numerous other activities.
Born and raised in Gujrat, Pakistan, he received his BA in Education and MA in Political Science from the University of Punjab. His intrinsic love of education, children, teaching and learning led him to begin his career as a teacher at Government Comprehensive School in Gujrat, Pakistan. Muhammad was offered his first principalship in 1982 and spent fifteen years as an adored elementary school principal at Government High School Chak Sada, Gujrat.
He brought an unparalleled zest for education and innovated numerous programs and traditions which continued long after his retirement. He spent weekends and evenings teaching the students who needed extra help, including students from his family and extended family. There is hardly anybody in the extended family who hadn't had a chance to learn from him. There are hundreds of students who call him their teacher and mentor.
Although he retired from full-time work in 1996, he spent the next ten years continuing to do what he loved, spending time educating the students and keep reading to increase his own knowledge. Muhammad enjoyed his retirement to the fullest and used his time productively to focus on his many hobbies and projects. He loved working with his hands and physically building a life he loved for himself and his family. He had a healthy way of balancing his family and work life, all while raising cows, goats, chickens, and gardening in his off hours, alongside his wife Khurshid and eight children.
Anyone who knew Muhammad knew that he was the most loving husband, father, grandfather, sibling, and son a family could ask for. He shared this same love with his students, community of friends, professionals, and acquaintances spanning across the globe.
Muhammad is survived by his wife of 60 years, Khurshid; four sons, Shahid (Tahira) of Wales, UK, Zahid (Zeba) of London, UK, Tahir (Nabila) of Calgary, AB and Nadeem (Arooj) of Calgary, AB; and four daughters, Rashida (Arif) of Lahore, PK, Aneela (Nadeem) of Gujrat, PK, Ghazala (Anwar) of Melbourne, AU, and Amber (Babar) of Calgary, AB. He is also survived by twenty-seven loving grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his parents, brother and sister.