Epp, Cornelius D. (1886-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 May 23 p. 6

Birth date: 1886 Jun 4

text of obituary:

— Cornelius D. Epp, 70, died unexpectedly Monday evening at the home on Main Street in North Newton. Although suffering from a heart ailment for some time, he had been up and around and assisted with household duties earlier in the day. Funeral services are announced for Thursday afternoon at the Bethel College church, of which he was a member. Mr. Epp was a native of Henderson, Neb. and farmed there until moving to North Newton seven years ago. Survivors include his wife, the former Bertha Regier; two daughters, Mrs. T. J. Luellen of Wichita and Mrs. Robert Senner of Buhler; a foster son, Henry Rempel of Lawrence; nine grandchildren; two brothers and three sisters.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Jun 6 p. 8

text of obituary:

C. D. EPP

Cornelius D. Epp, retired farmer, passed to his eternal reward Monday evening, May 20, 1957. the time granted him was 15 days short of 71 years. A native of Henderson, Neb., he was born June 4, 1886, to Rev. Heinrich and Helena Epp.

He was married March 15, 1913, in McPherson County, Kansas to Bertha Regier. To this union were added one son who died in infancy, two daughters, and one foster son, Henry Rempel.

He received catechetical instruction under Rev. David Goerz and was also baptized by him May 31, 1908. He thus became a member of the Bethel College Mennonite church, which membership he held until 1913 when he transferred his membership to the Bethesda Mennonite Church of Henderson, Neb. In this latter church he served for at least 12 years as a member of the board of trustees. He was an active member in the church, and served as Sunday school teacher for forty years. In 1950 when he moved to North Newton he transferred his membership to the Bethel College Church of that place.

The greater part of his life was spent as a farmer. Due to his diabetic condition farming became too strenuous for him, and in 1942 he left the farm and moved to York, the county seat of York County, Neb. Even before he moved there he had been elected into office work of the ASC. He also worked with the REA and with the Farmers Union of that city. Since both of his children lived in Kansas, he and his wife chose to make North Newton their home.

He was very active, and idling away time was foreign to his nature. In later years this may have been due in part to his diabetic condition which demanded regular and definitely measured exercise. He busied himself with various kinds of woodwork, weaving, gardening, and reading. His basement speaks of the way in which he spent his time. The things he made will be concrete evidence of his thoughtfulness and a manifestation of his good will.

In his younger days he was physically strong and possessed great endurance. Twenty three years ago he became a victim of diabetes. Day by day he was walking with one foot on the path of life and the other on the path of death. Every day he had to inject into his body the substance which his glands would not produce any more. In this struggle for life, we as a family tried to help him as much as we knew how. He did not complain about his physical handicap, much more, he often encouraged those who were similarly afflicted. He even acknowledged that his ailment had made him a different individual and, he trusted, a better individual. It had safeguarded him against many temptations and was a continuous stimulus for good.

He leaves to mourn his widow; two daughters, Mrs. Ruth Luellen, wife of Dr. T. J. Luellen of Wichita, and Mrs. Rachel Senner, wife of Robert Senner of Buhler; a foster son, Henry Rempel and wife of Lawrence; nine grandchildren; two brothers, H. E. Epp and J. D. Epp of Henderson, Neb.; three sisters, Mrs. J. K. Friesen and Miss Elizabeth Epp of Henderson, and Mrs. D. P. Mierau of Fresno, Calif.; a number of nephews and nieces, neighbors and friends. — The Family.