Wahed Uddin Chowdhury, also known as Manik or Sam, 50, died Saturday morning, Jan. 14, 2012 in Chanute,

He was born on Jan. 1st, 1962, in Dhaka, Bangladesh where he was raised by Bashira and Obaid Chowdhury, with eight siblings, including Borhan Chowdhury, Moinuddin Chowdhury, Messbauddin Chowdhury, and Kajol Chowdhury. Wahed graduated from high school in Bangladesh and graduated from college in Chicago with a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

He married Ishrat W. Chowdhury in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on August 11, 1988, and they moved to Chanute in 1998. They had three children together, Alveena, Rakin, and Lamisa Chowdhury, who love him dearly. Wahed was the proud owner of Skyline Motel and the newly opened gas station, ARL Shop-N-Go, which are located on West Main Street in Chanute. He loved to spend time with his wife and children as much as possible, and running his two businesses. Wahed was an exceptionally wonderful man, who changed lives for the better; he impacted the community in the most positive ways. As such an inspirational man, many people looked up to him. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. His burial took place in Bixby, Okla., on Jan. 14 by the Islamic Mosque. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.