Sahai, Prem Nath (abt 1928-2000)

SAHAI, AGARWAL, GUPTA

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Wednesday, May 24, 2000

Prem Nath Sahai, 72, Webster City, died in Delhi, India on May 21, 2000. A remembrance service will be held Thursday at 1:30 p.m. with visitation afterwards at Foster Funeral Home, Webster City.

Dr. Prem Nath Sahai was born in Lahore, India. He became a teacher and later a school principal in India, before attending the University of Northern Iowa for a Master's Degree in Mathematics and Education in 1957. He returned to UNI in 1965 to further his education. In 1967, he brought his family to the United States and began teaching Psychology and Statistics at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. In 1972, he obtained a Ph.D. from Iowa State University. He guided his children's education and the development of the Webster City Medical Clinic campus.

He was a benefactor to local school education programs, community development projects and various charitable organizations. In 1995, he founded the Foundation for Educational Excellence, a philanthropic organization devoted to educational endeavors and projects throughout the state of Iowa and in India. In 1998, he formalized plans and began funding for the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center, which is being developed in Johnston. During the past few years, he spent much of his time in India, where his primary focus was the support of the Bal Niketan Orphanage, a community of more than 80 children. Dr. Prem Sahai was the author of a number of books on Hindu religion and public education, and was a generous benefactor to higher education institutions, namely Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, Des Moines University, the University of Iowa and Iowa Central Community College.

He was married to Urmila Sahai for more than 52 years. He leaves behind his children, Subhash C. Sahai, M.D., and Sushma Sahai, M.D. from Webster City and their children, Aalok, Rohit and Seema; Anil Sahai, Ph.D., D.O., and Nutan Sahai, Webster City, and their children, Preeti, Ashish and Nikhil; daughter Shashi Agarwal, RPh., and son-in-law Anil Agarwal, D.D.S., Chicago, and their children, Amal, Shelly and Sheena; and daughter Neena Gupta, D.O. and son-in-law, Subhash Gupta, M.D., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and their children Sanjeev, Pooja and Akhil. He also leaves three sisters and many nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces.

The family kindly requests that no flowers be sent. A memorial fund has been established and gifts may be directed to the Foundation for Educational Excellence in care of First American Bank, 635 First St., Webster City, Iowa 50595.