Krishan Lall Tejpal was born in Rampur, in the District of Sialkot, in pre-partition India, to Harbans Lal and Puran Dai Tejpal. He was their only son.
His early childhood was simple and carefree. He walked to school with his grandmother, played with his sister, and cherished time with family until the Partition of India uprooted them from their home. The family eventually settled in Amritsar, Punjab.
Despite the challenges of displacement, Krishan completed high school in 1949. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Khalsa College, Amritsar, in 1952, and his Master of Science in Mathematics from DAV College in Jalandhar in 1954. He began teaching mathematics at Hindu College in Amritsar before joining DAV College in Amritsar. While there, he was asked to serve as an officer in the National Cadet Corps, a role he accepted without hesitation.
In 1961, he married Anita Tara, his devoted and lifelong partner. Encouraged by his cousin Jagadish Prabhakar, who had moved to the United States earlier, Krishan decided to pursue new opportunities abroad. On Sept. 1, 1964, the day he was to leave India, his first son, Yogesh “Sonny,” was born. He arrived in the United States later that month and began his doctoral studies at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.
Life in the U.S. was challenging at first. Through perseverance and hard work, he saved enough to bring Anita and Sonny to Chicago in August 1966, where the family lived in an apartment at IIT. During his doctoral studies, he realized he needed steady employment to support his growing family. After speaking with his department head, he was offered a position and remained on faculty. His second son, Rajeev “Raju,” was born May 6, 1969.
Krishan later joined the City Colleges of Chicago at what was then Loop College, now Harold Washington College, as an assistant professor. He became a full-time professor and remained there until his retirement. He also taught part-time for many years at Loyola University, Malcolm X College, and DePaul University.
In May 1970, he received the heartbreaking news of his father’s passing. As the eldest and only son, he assumed many family responsibilities with strength and pride, becoming a guiding presence for his sisters and helping them eventually move to the United States.
In the early 1970s, the family lived in Forest Park before Krishan built a home in Lombard. They moved into their new house around March 1, 1975. His third son, Ashish “Ashu,” was born April 8, 1977.
Throughout his life, Krishan formed lasting friendships that began in Amritsar and continued in Chicago, Forest Park, and Lombard. He was known for supporting others, whether emotionally or financially. He invested in real estate, loved to travel, and believed strongly in giving back through charitable donations and active involvement at the Hari Om Temple.
Above all, he cherished his family, both immediate and extended. He took great joy in his cousins, nieces, nephews, and their children.
Krishan was preceded in death by his parents, Harbans Lal and Puran Dai Tejpal. He is survived by his wife, Anita; his sons, Sonny and his wife Shefali, Raju, and Ashu; his grandchildren, Shaan, Jai, Nikash, and Anish; and his sisters, Bimla Sharma (the late Keval Sharma), Parvesh Sharma (the late Satish Sharma), and Raman Sharma (Vijay Sharma), along with their children and grandchildren.
He will be remembered for his warm smile, generous spirit, and kind, positive nature that drew so many into his life.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hari Om Temple in Medinah and to DuPage PADS.
Visitation and a time of remembrance will be held Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice, Illinois.