Epp, Peter Herman (1904-1976)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1976 Oct 15 p. 29

Birth date: 1904 Mar 26

text of obituary:

PETER HERMAN EPP

The son of Herman and Katherine Epp, Peter Herman Epp was born March 26, 1904 in Dawlekanowo, Russia. He moved to Canada in 1924 and found employment on a farm in Saskatchewan. He attended Bible school in Winkler, Man., from 1926 to 1930, where he met Mary Liesch. They were married on October 4, 1935 and settled on a farm near Marquette. They were blessed with two sons and one daughter.

In 1941 the family moved to Greendale: B.C ., where Mr. Epp served as a deacon. After moving to Vancouver in 1957, the family attended first the Fraserview Mennonite Brethren Church and later the Killarney Park Church. He worked at the Marpole Infirmary and then at the City Central Mission until his retirement.

While jogging on August 17, he collapsed and died on the way to the hospital. At a funeral August 20 in the Killarney Park Church, where he had been serving as custodian, many tributes were expressed for Mr. Epp's ministry to all he met.

He leaves to mourn his wife Mary ; his son Peter and wife Diana; son Eric and wife June; one daughter, Esther (Mrs. Leonard) Doerksen); seven grandchildren; one sister, Susie, in Russia; many relatives, friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ.

A MAN WHO ENRICHED OTHERS " I have said for years that Killarney Park Mennonite Brethren Church is rich. And I'm not referring to material assets and possessions. But if you have within your membership men of the spiritual calibre and capabilities of Peter Epp then God has richly blessed you and you are especially favoured of him."

This was part of the tribute paid our brother Epp at his funeral August 20, by Rev. Doug Harris of a nearby Vancouver Baptist church.

That Friday afternoon the Killarney Park sanctuary was filled to capacity with many pastors, Bible school teachers, friends, relatives and church members, all of whom had at some time been befriended, ministered to or encouraged in their ministry by Peter Epp. And the verse of scripture which Rev. Harris quoted expressed our feelings, perhaps of a tinge of envy, because of the reputation this saint had left on earth and the reception he would get in heaven: "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!" (Numbers 23:lO)

Brother Epp was deeply involved in church work and personal witness. He enjoyed going to conferences, seminars and Campus Crusade Institutes, sharing freely what he had learned. Many of us were encouraged by his friendly greeting, warm handshake, a phone call or letter when far away. He was never without religious tracts and copies of the "Four Spiritual Laws." Wherever he found an open mind or needy heart-whether walking through a park, jogging along the street or at the Union Gospel Mission in downtown Vancouver-he fed them spiritual truths.

Retirement for him meant working full time for the Lord whom he loved dearly. At every opportunity for public prayer he thanked Jesus for the assurance of his salvation and forgiveness of sin and made intercession for all men. Rev. Harris said of him, "He was a man who had a deeper love for the souls of men than I think anyone else I have ever met. And just give a hint of some new opportunity for spiritual service and Peter Epp was in the front line, in the front row."

Harris and Epp were part of a small group of men who met early each Wednesday morning to pray for many things, especially for the ministry of all evangelical churches in the South Vancouver area which are involved in a ministry known as "Operation Good News."

Wally Gripp, pastor of Killarney Park and Brian Friesen, youth pastor, also testified to brother Epp's constant encouragement in their ministry. They said he made friends with young and old alike. He was especially close to them during the last few months as custodian of the church. Besides doing his job well he would do little extras like placing flowers on the desks of the secretary's and the pastors' offices or leaving an appropriate scripture verse with them.

Just as he nurtured his spiritual growth so Mr. Epp, even at the age of 72 years, tried to look after his physical health. He disciplined himself to the end to keep fit by regularly swimming, ice skating and jogging. In fact , it was while jogging Aug. 17, 1976 that he collapsed and died on the way to the hospital. Selma Hooge