Dad died peacefully at home on December 22, 2021 spending his last few days surrounded by family. Born in Victoria at St. Joseph’s Hospital on September 25, 1936 to Sohan Singh and Beant Kaur Basi, Dad was one of 4 children.
Predeceased by his sister Bibi and sister-in-law Geri, he is survived by his wife Raghubans, children Ron (Gwen), Teri, Rob (Chris), and Kim; grandchildren Jenna (Stacey), Cameron, Ryan, and Graham. He will be greatly missed by family members and his many friends.
Dad grew up on Market Street spending the majority of his youth hanging out with his brothers (and best friends) Kirp and Jerry. At the age of 8, sitting on a block of wood with blocks on the pedals, Dad started to drive his father’s ’42 Dodge wood truck. He got caught occasionally, each time costing his father a bottle of rye when he was picked up from the police station. In his youth he developed lifelong meaningful friendships growing up with members of the East Indian community while working around the wood mills and lumber yards in Greater Victoria. Dad attended SJ Willis in grade 8 (for two years) where he learned that if you bought your teacher cigarettes they were obliged to share them with you. He learned how to smoke in the metal shop. At 14, his first job was as a stencil boy at Highway Sawmills. At 16 he worked at Plumper Bay where he drove a lift truck loading lumber on his father’s truck using a sling rather than forks; this was no small task. At the end of his second grade 8 year he started truck driving for Ideal Fuel hauling wood up and down the Island. However, it wasn’t until Dad turned 21 that he actually got his license. In the following years he was considered to be one of the best two-stick gear jammers around. He and Mom married on February 23, 1958 raising their kids in Victoria. He worked for Ideal Fuel until 1984 when the company, as Dad would say, went belly up. He then drove for Doman’s and Blue Star Transport until he retired in 2001.
Not one to mince words, Dad will be remembered as an upbeat, to the point, caring guy who’d give you the shirt off his back. With his blue collar upbringing he knew where he came from and how to command a room with his stories and humour.
He loved his grandchildren, niece, nephews, and had an incredibly soft spot for animals.
With consideration to the current Covid-19 situation, a private Funeral Service was held. A recording of the service can be found below.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Royal Jubilee Hospital: Heart Function Clinic, 1952 Bay Street, Victoria, BC V8R 1J8
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com.
66 Responses
Our sincere condolences to the Basi Family. Gurdial had an amazing smile and I will miss his friendly wave as I go up & down our hill.
My condolences Rob to you and the family.
Thinking of your family at this time.
So sorry for your loss.
Nancy Reeve ❤️
Very sorry for your loss. He was great person. We’ve known him for long time. Our condolences to all family. Jawl family
Joe &Surjit Jawl
Our deepest condolences to all your Family during this very difficult time… Can’t count the number of times your Mom and Dad opened your home for Members of our SPD shift with Mom serving up the food and Dad serving up the humor…He will be deeply missed by many.
Very sorry to hear the passing of your father Gurdial he was a great guy and definitely a great story teller and I always enjoyed hearing stories of the old days that involved my dad and others that I knew and grew up with
He will be missed but not forgotten
The Clough’s
I didn’t know your dad well Ron, but I still fondly remember one story that involved him. You asked him to rescue me when I locked my keys inside my car (for about the tenth time!l) and was too afraid to call my dad. He jimmied the lock with a tool that he had (and no-one was the wiser!)
Wish I had that tool over the years!
My condolences to the whole Basi family over the loss of your dad.
My condolences to the family of Gurdial. I met him when I started at Ideal Fuel in 1968. He
took me under his wing and showed me the ropes. I found him to be a kind, funny responsible man and helped me when I got in trouble with a couple of loads. I was also invited to a couple of Family gatherings in his garage where I met son, Ron and brothers Jerry and Kirpal, and we all became friends, still to this day.
May you rest in peace my old friend.
Haggis
Dear Ragbunts, Ron, Dimple, Kim, Rob & your families. Sending my deepest condolences & much love to all of you at this difficult time. Gurdial was always such a happy and friendly man to everyone he met and I enjoyed speaking with him. He will be greatly missed. Lots of love, Bonny.
Condolences to the family and friends. To me, the Basi Family have been one of the nicest and most helpful group of people I have ever met especially in the trucking industry. Gurdial, I know will be missed.