Epp, Jakob B. (1874-1945)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1946 Jan 8 p. 15

Birth date: 1874 Apr 6

text of obituary:

Prediger und Missionar Jakob B. Epp. Sohn von Johann und Margarethe Bergman Epp, wurde am 6. April, 1874, zu Köppenthal, am Trakt, Saratov, Rußland, geboren. Hier besuchte er die Dorfschule und verlebte seine Jugendzeit. Am 29. Mai, 1889, wurde er vom Aeltesten Johannes Quiring getauft, und diesem Glaubensbekenntnis blieb er treu sein Lebenlang. 1893 kam er mit Eltern und Geschwistern nach Newton, Kansas. Hier besuchte er Bethel College, und graduierte im Jahre 1897. Während der nächsten zwei Jahre hielt er Schule in Manitoba, Canada, und auf der Missionsstation, bei Cantonment, Oklahoma. Dann diente er als Missionar unter den Hopi Indianern, zu Oraibi, Arizona, von 1901 bis 1912. Am 29. Juni, 1905 trat er in den Ehestand mit Miß Nettie Harms, Glied der Gnadenberg, Gemeinde (Harvey County) deren Verlust durch den Tod am 11. Februar, 1913, in Pasadena, California, ihn in tiefe Trauer versetzte. Diese Ehe wurde mit zwei Kindern, Theodore H. und Ida Esther, und einer Pflegetochter, Dorothy Viola, gesegnet. Am 2. April, 1914, trat er zum zweiten Mal in den Ehestand mit Miß Johanna von Steen, von Beatrice, Nebraska. Diese Ehe wurde mit einer Tochter, Helen Margaret, gesegnet. Als Bibellehrer und Prinzipal, diente er 19 Jahre in der Oklahoma Bibel Akademie (Oklahoma Bible Academy). Während dieser Zeit war er auch 5 Jahre Aeltester von der Neu Hoffnungstal Gemeinde, zu Meno, Oklahoma. Von 1919 bis 1921 war er Aeltester von der Pretty Prairie Gemeinde, bei Pretty Prairie, Kansas, und als Editor des “Der Herald” diente er etwa zwei Jahre, 1921-1923. Er hat auch zeitweise bei Orienta, Oklahoma, und Moundridge, Kansas, gedient. Als Bibellehrer wirkte er zwei Jahre im Hesston College, Hesston, Kansas. Seine letzte Arbeit als Gebetsleiter in dem “Back To The Bible Broadcast”, Lincoln, Nebraska, machte ihm besondere Freude, und er hat auch bis zuletzt dieser Arbeit sich treu gewidmet. 1929 wurde er schwer krank an Lungenentzündung, und seither machte sich ein Herzfehler bemerkbar. Am 1. Mai, 1945, litt er einen Herzanfall, und von da wurde er zusehends schwächer. Am 26. November, kam er ins Bethel Hospital, wo er 3:30 morgens, am 22. Dezember, 1945, sanft entschlief im Alter von 71 Jahren 8 Monaten und 16 Tagen, und wartet auf die selige Hoffnung und Erscheinung der Herrlichkeit des großen Gottes und unseres Heilandes, Jesu Christi. Tief trauernd hinterläßt er seine Wittwe; 2 Schwestern: Schwester Ida, vom Bethel Diakonissen-Hospital, und Mrs. B. G. Regier, Newton; 4 Kinder, Pred. Theodore H. Epp, Lincoln, Nebraska, Mrs. E. A. Ferrer, Los Angeles, Calif. Mrs. Arnold C. Claassen, Potwin, Kansas, und Mrs. Selbert Sharpe, Los Angeles, Calif.; 1 Schwiegertocher, 3 Schwiegersöhne, 10 Großkinder, nebst vielen Freunden.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1945 Dec 27 p. 1

text of obituary:

Former Missionary, Pastor, Bible Teacher Called Away in Death

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR REV. J. B. EPP HELD HERE MONDAY AFTERNOON

Rev. J. B. Epp, 71, former missionary, pastor and Bible teacher, died here at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital at 2:30 Saturday morning, Dec. 22, from a heart ailment to which other complications were added in recent weeks. He and his wife had lived with their son, Rev. Theodore Epp, nationally known radio minister at Lincoln, Nebr., until illness made it necessary for him to be brought here for hospital care.

Rev. Epp was born at Koppenthal, Russia, April 6, 1874. After coming to this country he studied for the ministry and entered active service as teacher in the Indian Mission School at Cantonment, Okla. Later he spent 12 years among the Hopi Indians at Oraibi, Ariz. Returning to Oklahoma he became a teacher and principal of the Oklahoma Bible Academy in 1913. After 1919 he served in several pastorates as well as in various other capacities. Upon his retirement he continued as correspondence Bible teacher until only a few months before his death.

Anticipating his early departure, Rev. Epp had left complete instructions for his funeral, which were also carried out as closely as possible at the services held at the First Mennonite church here Monday afternoon. Introductory remarks were made by Rev. J. R. Duerksen, a former missionary, while the obituary was read by Rev. J. E. Entz. Sermons were preached by Rev. Theodore Epp of Lincoln, by Dr. P. A. Penner, missionary in India for 40 years, and Rev. D. J. Unruh, Newton. Interment was made in Greenwood cemetery.

His wife and four children survive.

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The Mennonite obituary: 1946 Jan 8 p. 6

text of obituary:

REV. JACOB B. EPP, son of Johann and Margarethe Bergman Epp, was born in Koeppenthal, Sartom [sic Saratov], Russia, April 6, 1874. Here he received his elementary education and grew to young manhood. He was baptized upon the confession of his faith, May 29, 1889, by the Elder Johannes Quiring, and has been a devoted member of the Mennonite Church since.

In 1893 he migrated to America with his parents, settling in Newton, Kansas. Here he graduated from Bethel College. He taught school for one year in Manitoba, Canada, and one year in an Indian School in Oklahoma Territory. From 1901 until 1912 he served as missionary to the Hopi Indians in Oraibi, Arizona, under the Foreign Mission Board of the General Conference.

On June 29, 1905, he was united in marriage with Miss Nettie Harms, of the Gnadenberg Mennonite Church, Harvey County. This union was blessed with two children: Theodore H. and Ida Esther; and Dorothy Viola, a Hopi Indian girl, was adopted. He suffered the loss of his first wife on February 11, 1913, in Pasadena, California. On April 2, 1914, he was united in marriage with Miss Johanna von Steen, of Beatrice, Nebraska, which union was blessed with one daughter, Helen Margaret.

Beginning in 1913, he served nineteen years with the Oklahoma Bible Academy, serving as principal and Bible teacher. He also served as pastor of the New Hopedale Mennonite Church of Meno, Oklahoma, from 1913 to 1918. From 1919 to 1921 he served as pastor of the Pretty Prairie Mennonite Church of Pretty Prairie, Kansas. He served as editor of Der Herold, Newton, Kansas, from 1921 to 1932. At various times he also held pastorates at Orienta, Oklahoma, and Moundridge, Kansas. From 1927 until 1929 he taught in the Bible Department of Hesston College, Hesston, Kansas. The past three and one-half years he spent as prayer leader with the "Back to the Bible Broadcast," with headquarters at Lincoln, Nebraska.

In 1929 he became critically ill with pneumonia, from the effects of which illness, his heart never completely recovered. On May 1, 1945, he suffered a severe heart attack, and from that time his bodily decline was quite rapid. On November 26, he entered the Bethel Hospital, and passed away quietly in his sleep, at about 3:30 a. m. December 22, 1945, having attained an age of seventy-one years, eight months and sixteen days.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his widow; two sisters, Sister Ida of the Bethel Deaconess Hospital, Mrs. B. G. Regier of Newton, Kansas; four children, Rev. Theodore H. Epp, of Lincoln, Nebraska; Mrs. E. A. Ferrer, of Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Arnold C. Claassen, of Potwin, Kansas; Mrs. Selbert Sharpe of Los Angeles, California; one daughter-in-law, three sons-in-law, ten grand-children, and a host of other relatives and friends.

In the years of his declining health, he grew much heavenward, waiting for the Upper-taker. His one great desire was to be here when the Lord Jesus returned for His Saints. This last wish was not granted him by the Lord, but he preceded in order that he might return with the Lord at His coming. The following poem expresses his great desire:

I've a longing in my heart for Jesus,
   I've a longing in my heart to see His face,
I am weary, oh so weary, of travelling here below,
   I've a longing in my heart for Him."