Gopalan K. Padmanabhan

K.G. Padmanabhan, 85, of Palatine, IL passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026. Padmanabhan was born on January 15, 1941 in Kallingalpadam (Palakkad) Kerala to Gopalan and Devaki. He was the first born and grew up with 4 brothers and 3 sisters. Having lost his dad at a young age of 35, he was a role model to his siblings. He attended Kannambra High School and graduated in 1958. He was the first to graduate P.U.C and go on to higher studies in college from his village. He received his Electrical Engineering Degree from Kerala Government Polytechnic, Kozhikode in 1963. While in college he was a renowned athlete and played many sports, basketball being his favorite.

He had a great career in India, with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB). Started as a Surveyor in South Arcot District in the 60s, he worked in Panrutti and Villupuram. In the late 1970's, he was transferred to Karadivavi in Coimbatore District where he worked as a Junior Engineer at the power substation. It was the most memorable part of his entire career. He loved everything about the clean, stress free, genuine small town atmosphere. He moved on from there in the 80s, worked in Kuppusamynaidupuram, Ennore Thermal Powerstation and for his final assignment in Sholayar Nagar, before filing for volunteer retirement from service in 1993 at the age of 52. 

On Dec 7, 1967, Padmanabhan married, Vasantha Madhavan of Karamadai, Coimbatore. As newlyweds, they moved wherever his TNEB postings took them, eventually coming to Lake Mills, Wisconsin, in 1993, sponsored by his brother-in-law, Mr. Bhaskaran Madhavan of Naperville, Illinois. He had a second career at Hamlin Inc as a Sam Technician and retired for the second time in 2006, moved to Kenosha, WI, Bloomingdale and Addison in IL and then finally settling in Palatine a suburb of Chicago, where they have lived for the last 10 years. Padmanabhan and Vasantha were each other's best friends and had a loving marriage. Together they raised their four children, taught them how to love and instilled great moral values, throughout their marriage. They became "Grandpa and Grandma" when their granddaughter, Neha was born and loved everything about their new roles. In July of 2017, Padmanabhan and Vasantha celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary among family and friends.

Padmanabhan loved Ramayana and Mahabharata, remembered the debates that his Grandfather Arumugam of Kolakkode would have with people in the village while he was growing up, and talked about the life lessons these Hindu epics had to offer with his children all the time. Also close to his heart were Tamil couplets Thirukkural, MGR and Mohanlal movies, listening to Music by artists like Yesudas, Lata Mangheskar, Mohd Rafi and Kishor Kumar. Padmanabhan was his family's number one champion and always wanted to take care of them in any way he could. He will be dearly loved and forever in their hearts.

Padmanabhan was a teetotaller and an honest man. He had a wonderful, full and fun life that he lived in a dharmic way. He will continue to inspire the lives he touched and his time with us will be cherished forever. 

Padmanabhan is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Vasantha. Sons - Bhabha Saravanan and Preeti of Inverness IL, Baba Prasanna and Deepa of Des Plaines IL, Baba Pradeep and Sindu of Fairfax, VA, Daughter - Bindu and Dr. Shaji of Middleton, WI. Grandkids - Siddarth, Samrudh, Naine, Nevika, Shivani, Thaliya, Neha and Nandini. Siblings - Sreekumaran, Sreedharan, Ambujakshan, Pankajakshan, Lakshmi, Sumathi, Draupadi and Numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews and close friends.

Family and friends will be welcomed for visitation and funeral services from 9:00 A.M. - 11 A.M. Sunday, February 22, 2026 at Davenport Family Funeral Homes and Crematory - Lake Zurich 941 S Old Rand Rd, Lake Zurich, IL 60047. A Hindu Funeral Puja will be held at 10:00 A.M. followed by cremation. 

For those unable to attend in person, a livestream will be available through Zoom. 

Topic: Gopalan K. Padmanabhan Ceremony

Time: Feb 22, 2026 08:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

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