Epp, Jacob Peter (1892-1978)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 30 Mar 1978 p. 11

Birth date: 1892

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1978 May 12 p. 34

Birth date: 1892 Feb 21

text of obituary:

REV. JACOB PETER EPP

After a long life of service to God and the Mennonite Brethren Church, Rev. Jacob Peter Epp passed away in Winnipeg on March 6, 1978 at the age of 86 years. He was born in Elizabethtal, south Russia, on February 21, 1892. The upheavals of war led him to Canada in 1924, where he began farming at Glenlea, Man. On July 30, 1928 he was baptized and received into the Arnaud (Man.) Mennonite Brethren Church, where he was ordained a short ten months later on May 19, 1929. Soon after he began ten years of service in the leadership of the Niverville (Man.) Mennonite Brethren Church.

In 1939 Rev. Epp moved his family to Steinbach, Man., and became active in the Steinbach Church. He served as leader from 1943-53. He gave unstintingly of himself by helping in the ministry, until age and ill health made it impossible to continue. He was also chairman of the Steinbach Bible Institute Board, chairman of the Tabernacle Association, founder of Manitoba Mennonite Brethren home missions (Randmission), a charter member of the Manitoba Mennonite Brethren Conference, and vice-chairman of the Mennonite Brethren Bible College Board for 11 years.

In 1977 Rev. Epp and his wife moved to Donwood Manor in Winnipeg because of failing health. On January 9 he was admitted to Concordia Hospital because of a heart attack. After a difficult illness, particularly in the last two weeks, his Lord called his servant home on the evening of March 6. He leaves to mourn his beloved wife, Margaret; his children and their spouses, George and Clara; Madeline (Mrs. Walter) Kroeker, Norma (Mrs. Art) Rempel, and Jake and Lydia; 14 grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; and many friends.