Slain Sikh temple leader built a life in America after arriving with nothing

(CBS News) OAK CREEK, Wisconsin - One of the victims of the Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting was the leader of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, Satwant Kalecka. He had come to this country with almost nothing and had built his own version of the American Dream.

His wife, Sathpaul, and other women were cooking inside the temple's kitchen when the shooting began Sunday.

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"I (was) just screaming, screaming, and the shots fired," Sathpaul told CBS News.

Satwant Kalecka, the president of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, was one of the victims who was brutally gunned down during the Sikh temple shooting in Oak Park, Wisc., Aug. 5, 2012.

/ CBS

She was worried about her husband, the 65-year-old president of the temple. He had just started his morning prayers in another room.

"Standing there, all the girls with me, I said, 'Pray for my husband,'" she said.

As they huddled in the pantry, she made several quick calls to her son, Amardeep.

"(She said,) 'There is a gunman here. He's firing on us.' Click," Amardeep recalled. "Later it was another phone call saying, 'Where is everybody? Nobody is coming to help us.' Click. Then, the next one was, 'How's your father doing? Where's your father?' Click."

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When Amardeep arrived at the temple, he found out his father was dead. The family says Satwant tried to take down the gunman with a ceremonial knife, but he was shot twice.

"It doesn't make sense," Sathpaul sobbed. "No make sense."

Today, the family mourned the loss of a father and grandfather, a man who came to the United States in 1982 with just $35, according to his son.

Sikh temple shooting victim Satwant Kalecka worked at a gas station and other jobs, eventually saving money to open his own temple.

/ CBS

"He started at a gas station. He was the guy who wore the turban and the beard no matter what in the gas station," Amardeep said.

Satwant eventually started buying and renting property, using the money to build his dream. Eventually, he built a temple for the nearly 400 families in the local Sikh community.

"He said, 'God has a thing for me. I want to build this temple,'" Amardeep explained. "And, it's the temple that he built."

He also put up a tribute to his adopted country in his front yard -- an American flag. The flag now flies at half-staff in his memory.

Sadly, today was a day that his family had been looking forward to for months. They planned to break ground on a new house in the Milwaukee area. The family says those plans are now on hold.

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[cbsblogger]

My condolences to the family.

The problem here is that the elite have robbed society and created a nation of ever more angry people, and this reason is both overlooked and not discussed because our politicians are owned. Instead they'll talk about the need to disarm the serfs for the same reasons the wealthy and feudal kings did it in the middle ages. The ruling elite prefer serfs to be unarmed because then they have no clout political or otherwise.

Perhaps before we consider excising the 2nd Amendment, we need the corrupt thieves of Wall Street, that made trillions of our wealth evaporate, criminally prosecuted.

[Enzo800]

This guy came to this country with nothing, did exactly what he was supposed to do, and many up here STILL have to slam his religion or the way Indians dress or their culture. No doubt about it. This is going to get worse before it gets any better. With clowns like Bachmann and Pat Buchannan to spew their rhetoric, and the teabagger party loons more than willing to follow those people, this will happen more and more.

[KPeters_from_UK]

I am appalled by the ignorant racist sentiment expressed since the massacre of peaceful ordinary Sikhs. One person justifies it with that they had it coming because of a plane blowing up in 1985 or 1986 and another blames all Sikh for Indira Gandhi's assassination in 1984. Then there is one who says Sikhs are pushy and boastful and another decries the fact you have to wear a scarf in their places of worship!!

Have you not been to Italy or Spain? No woman can enter most churches with bare legs and arms. Go to the Vatican for worship and you are required to wear a scarf on your head.

[krotec54]

That is wonderful to show respect to other religions, but do any other migrants show any respect to the religions in America? We may be a Secular or a Christian nation but when you bring another religion to this country is not beneficial when you are in pursuit for a better life. The old ways should be left at home in the old country where it works better there. Start with a clean slate; study the religion you want to be part of, not next to your old religion. We don't need another class of migrants looking to be treated differently from the rest of the country. So cover up your religion when you visit another religion.

[andyk1234]

krotec: What happened to freedom of religion? This country was founded on everyone being able to worship in the way they choose!!! Those people in the Temple that day are probably more American than most Tea Party-ers like yourself.

[krotec54]

@ Andyk123, The Freedom of Religion is meant for the religions between the states in America, not to transplant another religion to this country, read the Constitution, you're not an American if you still have patriotism to another country and their religion.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Not if you go to celebrate the Mass in St Peter's or meet with the Pope. And if you visit a Catholic Church in Italy or Spain you need to cover up. Obviously you don't travel mush.

[winchesterla]

It is a pity these guys have to be moored down by this lunatic. However the Indians have got a penchant in orchestrating their achievements or their wins and that brings envy. American dream? We are all living it - all races. In Europe they tell you how they came with suitcases and made it. Others did same but keep it quiet. So lets mourn them and keep down achievements. Even if they had nothing they don't deserve to be gunned down. That's my take.

[KPeters_from_UK]

However the Indians have got a penchant in orchestrating their achievements or their wins and that brings envy.........

How about.....However the German Jews have got a penchant in orchestrating their achievements or their wins and that brings envy.

Lord! HAve we not learned from our past?

[Ulgnud]

I have never heard of any Sikh devotee causing any kind of problem here. My condolences to the stricken families and other members of these people so tragically harmed by this act.

[fredisalive]

RIP. These uneducated wing nuts listen to these propaganda radio and TV and then lash out at anybody that does not look like them! Anybody with a 4th grade education knows that Sikhs are not Moslems! Not that killing Moslems is ok!! A 40 year old bald person who still lives in an apartment is feeling superior???

[rwsmith29456]

Sad. So sad when a POS supremist kills people much better than him.

[treehgr07]

My sincere condolences to the family. This is such a tragedy.

[taxed01]

R.I.P. Mr. Kalecka. You are a true American.

[1stlttightwad]

Sincere condolences to all the family members that have lost loved ones...This man came to America with a dream and nothing else but a desire to do better and become a better person, guess Obama thinks he didn't build that either. This man understood America better than Obama ever will.