Dr. Krishan Lal

The link to the livestream will be available HERE on the day of the services and will go live approx. 5 minutes before the event. 

It is with profound sadness that our much loved husband, father, and grandfather, Dr. Krishan Lal, passed away peacefully on June 21, 2026. He leaves behind not only his beloved family, but a legacy of community impact, intellectual curiosity, and devotion to others.

Krishan was born in Janti Kalan, Haryana, India to Chote Lal and Brahma Devi. He was the eldest child in a family of six, with two younger brothers and one younger sister, all of whom he cared for dearly. Following completion of his undergraduate degree in New Delhi, Krishan studied at the London School of Economics and the University of Göttingen in Germany, where he completed his PhD in 1960 in the field of Microeconomic Theory, Growth Theory, & Development Economics. Krishan then moved to Canada, eventually settling in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in the early 1960s, which would become his home for the remainder of his life. 

Krishan was a tenured professor at the University of Saskatchewan for over 35 years, serving as head of the Economics Department from 1979-1984. He was the first winner of the Department's R.E. Olley Teaching Award, for his exceptional dedication to his students. A prolific scholar, he had many publications and articles in academic journals, including a book in German Die Agrarpolitik Indiens: Eine kritische Würdigung (India's Agricultural Policy: A Critical Appraisal), and has received awards from the German Research Association for his commitment to scholarly exploration. Upon "retirement", and we say this loosely as Krishan never truly stopped learning, he was honoured with the designation of Professor Emeritus at the University of Saskatchewan. During this time, he gave multiple guest lectures such as at the International Society for Data Sciences and Innovation - Global (ISDSI-G) in Nagpur, Belgaum and Pune, India. 

Krishan's life was rooted in service to his community. He acted as the lead of the Faculty Pension Committee, and over his lifetime accumulated millions of dollars for the pension of all faculty members of the university. Additionally, he volunteered his time to the City of Saskatoon Pension Committee. In recognition of his work, he received the Distinguished Community Service Award from the City of Saskatoon. He also created a scholarship "The Dr. Krishan Lal and Sunita Lal Fund in Economic Research" to be given to students enrolled in the Faculty of Economics at the University of Saskatchewan.

Beyond his professional achievements, Krishan's faith was dear to him, and he studied Hindu texts and philosophy with passion. He even continued to teach himself Sanskrit until his passing. Krishan was also one of the founding members of the India-Canada Cultural Association (ICCA). In his spare time, he had an unshakable loyalty to the Indian National Cricket Team and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, as well as persistent study of finance and politics. 

Krishan was patient beyond measure. He met life's difficulties and the needs of others with an unshakeable calm, never too hurried to listen, never too burdened to help. Whether in the lecture hall or at home, he carried the soul of a true teacher, one who not merely imparted knowledge, but offered wisdom earned through a life thoughtfully lived. To be known by him was to be embraced as family. He was generous and kind at his core, the type of person who lit up a room with his exuberance and lifted everyone around him with his seemingly limitless strength.

He is survived by his wife Sunita, to whom he was married for 56 years, their children Vibhor (Hina), Maninee (Manish), and Rishi (Krista), and grandchildren Divya, Shivam, Keshav, Daniel, and Audrey - each of them a reflection of the values he held most dear.

Krishan will be deeply missed. We will spend our lives striving to live up to the legacy he left behind.

Services will be held at Saskatoon Funeral Home: 338 4th Ave N, Saskatoon, SK S7K 2L7, Canada on June 27th, 2026, at 2:30PM CST with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Royal University Hospital, Cardiology Department: https://ruhf.org/donate/, in his memory. The service will be livestreamed by the link at the top of this page for those unable to attend in person.