Epp, Nettie K. Harms (1874-1913)

The Mennonite obituary: 1913 Feb 20 p. 3

Birth date: 1874 Mar 30

text of obituary:

Mrs. J. B. Epp, nee Nettie K. Harms, was born March 30, 1874, in the country of Russia near the boundary line of that country and Poland. That same year, in the late fall, her parents, together with a large number of other German settlers, emigrated to America into the State of Kansas. These emigrants lived under rather poor circumstances in the early years of their sojourn there. Since her 14th year, Nettie has been away from home a great deal, earning a part of her living. Even before that age, she had been staying part of the time with other people of that German neighborhood, helping take care of the children and attending school part of the time. She showed great aptness in attending to the sick, and gradually she became known there as "the one always ready." Whenever any family around had sickness and needed help, the suggestion seemed to come of itself, "Just send for Nettie Harms."

Later on she began to feel the lack of education, and so attended the Mennonite College at Newton, Kans., for almost four years. She also taught German school for three short terms. Then the call came to her to enter the mission field among the Hopi Indians in Arizona. After two years of work there, she had about decided to take a regular two years' course for nurse, and possibly return to that same field, making the work among the sick Indians a specialty. But God had other plans for her. She did return to that field (after two months though) as the happy wife of a missionary.

Mr. and Mrs. Epp were married June 29th, 1905. They had worked together in that mission field for six years more, when Mrs. Epp was compelled to leave that high altitude of northern Arizona on account of heart disease, which she most likely had contracted from rheumatism in earlier years, though not fully realizing it until then.

They moved to southern California in August, 1911. Mrs. Epp found great relief for her ailment here. But she realized that her heart might at any time fail, even with the slightest exertion.

For the past six months, the family have been visiting in Kansas with their many friends and relatives there. Mrs. Epp felt as comfortable there as in California until within two weeks of their return when she had a slight attack of "grippe", but seemed to have fully recovered before they started back to California about two weeks ago. Two days after their arrival here in Los Angeles, she was taken sick with pneumonia. In spite of her weak heart, she held out wonderfully, but after all, the weakened vital forces gave way and the end came at 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 11th, sitting in an arm-chair, where she had been sitting throughout her last sickness of nine days, not being able to lie down on account of difficult breathing.

O how glad she was to go, how she did call her Redeemer so longingly during the hours of extreme suffering. She was fully conscious till the very last, speaking freely of her joy in the Lord and committing her loved ones to the same Redeemer to whom she was now going, that He should keep them "unto that great day."

Far away from all relatives (except one cousin), within a circle though of many new friends and kind neighbors, her remains are now to be laid into the grave, until the resurrection morning. Her loving husband and her two children are here giving up the dearest on earth, but they are doing it as such that have a living hope of soon uniting again with their dear mamma. Did I say two children—no, there are three: bright little black-haired Dorothy (everybody calls her "sister") is her child, too, indeed. Did she not put aside her own 10 months old baby boy from her breast and nurse the little Indian orphan for 8 months more! Dorothy is the child of Christian Indian parents, but since she was one day old, has been in the home of her white mamma, the only mamma she knows.

The dear one here before us in the casket has during her lifetime nursed many a sick one—she too had the very best care during her illness; she has comforted many—now she is being comforted with an everlasting comfort. She was thoroughly converted by grace, and upon grace alone die she rely in life and death. She wanted to know Jesus only, and to Him alone has she tried to point the Indians and others.

"Jesus, come, oh come quickly and deliver Thy poor child," were her last audible words.

He did come in that minute.

Funeral services were held at Grace chapel on the afternoon of February 13, conducted by Rev. E. F. Grubb, assisted by Rev. A. B. Prichard, of the Central Presbyterian church and J. E. Sprunger, state secretary of the Y. M. C. A.