Epp, Sarah Friesen (1849-1938)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1938 Aug 9 p. 15

Birth date: 1849 Nov 28

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1938 Jul 27 p. 3

text of obituary:

Mrs. Sarah Epp

Our mother, Sarah Epp, nee Friesen, was born November 28, 1949, in the village of Gnadenheim, So. Russia. She grew to womanhood in the village of Paulsheim, where she received her education in the village schools.

In the year 1869 on Pentecost, she was baptize on confession of her faith by Elder Bernhard Harder, in the village of Morgenau and taken into membership of that church. When she in accompany with her husband, H. E. Epp, and her parents came to America they joined the Bethesda church, whose faithful member she remained until she passed away.

On April 29, 1871, she was united in holy wedlock with Heinrich C. Epp, our father. In 1904 he preceded her in death. This happy union was broken after 33 years of united happiness and sorrows. As widow she has remained here for 34 years, a time exceeding their union by one year.

She and her husband had a real touch of pioneer life, for when they came here this country was a vast raw land on which the buffalo and Indians had previously made their home.

Six children were born to this union, five sons and one daughter. Cornelius, the oldest died in 1905. Heinrich in 1906 and the others are Rev. J. H. Epp of Hillsboro, Kansas, Mrs. George Doell of Henderson, Peter of York and Jacob of Henderson. These were all present at the funeral.

In 1874 she and her husband came with her parents to America and settled in the south west part of York Co., near the present town of Henderson. Here they built their first home on the wild prairies of Nebraska, where they have helped to convert the raw land into a garden spot. Turning the first sod with oxen and being deprived of many comforts of life. After the death of our father she remained on the farm for a few years and then moved to Henderson where she purchased a home wand spent the greater part of her widowhood with her son Jacob, who very tenderly cared for her in her old age. In the last few years her declining health and old age needed special care, which was rendered to her by the children in her immediate surroundings till she passed away on July 12, 1938, 8 a.m., at the age of 88 years, 7 months and 14 days.

On her repeated clear testimony, we, her children, may cherish the comforting hope that our mother has passed into her heavenly home where there will be eternal joy and bliss and in Christ expect to meet her again. We are thankful to her for what she has done for us. She has done for us what only a mother could do, till her tired and weakening heart gave out and her spirit passed into the great beyond under the burdens of her age. She was the last of those who were married among the settlers who came to America in 1874.

     "Endlich kommt er leise,
Nimmt uns bei der Hand,
     Fuerht uns von der Reise,
Heim ins Vaderland.

or

     At last he comes silently
And takes us by the hand.
     Takes us from life's journey,
Home into the fatherland."

As a family, we wish to thank all friends and neighbors for the kindness shown our mother in our bereavement and for the assistance that was given her during her last days here on earth. — The family.