Surendra Tavathia

Surendra Tavathia, 67, passed away on October 16, 2016, at Mercy West Lakes in West Des Moines, IA. He was born in the small village of Kilhora in Uttar Pradesh, India on November 4, 1948, son of Rampal Tavathia and Kamlesh Kumari.

Surendra lived in India for most of his young adult life, belonging to a farming family in rural India. After attempts to join the Indian military, he instead pursued his passion in education and was a Math Teacher in Pilani, Rajasthan. He aspired for bigger opportunities in life for him and his family and immigrated to the United States, moving to Ames, Iowa in 1979 with his wife, Kusum, and daughter, Meenu. After a long career with Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Surendra pursued his desire to own a business. Many knew him as “Sam”, and he enjoyed traveling, food, trying new things, drinking chai, helping others, and meeting new people. He was a kind and loving husband, father, brother, son, uncle, cousin, grandfather, and friend.

Surendra is survived by his wife, Kusum (of 46 years); daughters, Meenu (Tushar) Raval, Mona (future son-in-law Todd), Meera; siblings, Kishan (brother), Krishna (sister), Virendra (brother); and grandchildren, Milan Raval (grandson), Maya Raval (granddaughter).

Prayer services will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by funeral services at 11:30 a.m., on Thursday, October 20, 2016 at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines, IA.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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