With great sadness, yet profound thankfulness for a rich legacy of love and faith, the family of Melvin Epp announce his passing on September 10, 2008 at the age of 83 years, after a brief battle with cancer and kidney disease. Melvin Albert Epp was born near Waldheim, SK on February, 27, 1925. His parents were Heinrich M. & Aganetha (Goossen) Epp. Melvin was the youngest of nine children. Dad was well acquainted with the economic hardships of the Depression but often enjoyed herding cattle as a barefooted lad. He attended Springfield School #535 and was particularly influenced by his teacher Allan Schmidt. When he was eight years old and while attending meetings with evangelist Ed Erickson, Dad made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Six years later he was baptized and accepted into the membership of the Salem Church in the Waldheim community. He received his Bible School training at Bethany Bible Institute in Hepburn, SK, graduating in 1948. He completed his high school education by correspondence and accepted the position as a Study Supervisor at Northvale School. In 1950 he took a fancy to a childhood acquaintance and classmate, Ruby Dirks. They were soon engaged and were married on September 29th of that year. They moved to Northvale and taught there the following year. For the next two years they lived in Saskatoon where Dad studied at Teacher’s College and at the University. By 1954, Dad got a teaching position at Silver Grove School. Marlene, Melvin & Ruby’s first daughter was born that July. Dad & Mom also served as pastoral couple at the local Church of God. They next moved to Crown Hill school district near Blaine Lake, SK. It was shortly after this move in 1957, that Muriel was born. They moved to Erwood, ten miles west of Hudson Bay in the summer of 1958. Dad served as teacher-principal there for seven years, and again filled his dual role by serving as pastor for the Erwood Church of God. Donovan joined the family in 1962. In the spring of 1965, Dad was invited to teach in the Main Centre School and to serve as pastor at the Capeland EMB Church, where he was ordained. He pastored there for eleven years, and taught at Main Centre until the school’s closing in 1979. Dad became pastor of the Gouldtown Mennonite Church in 1976, and faithfully served this congregation for ten years. He finished his teaching career with three enjoyable years at the Main Centre Hutterite Colony, retiring in June of 1982. Then in 1986, Dad & Mom received the call to serve as pastoral couple at Christian Fellowship Church in Rhineland. They enjoyed serving there for another nine years before retiring from “fulltime ministry” in 1995. Dad served as President of the Fellowship of Evangelical Bible Churches from 1990 – 1997. He also served on the Board of the Swift Current Christian Counseling Centre for a number of years. He remained active in the Fairview Bible Church until this summer. He preached his last sermon there on July 27, 2008. In his retirement years Dad remained active with various other interests including: the S.C. Oratorio Choir, Men of Song, and the Caraula Group. He passed on his love of music to each of his children. He also shared with us his love of literature. As our family grew, Dad and Mom welcomed and loved each addition unconditionally. Marlene married Ellery Pullman in 1974; Muriel married David Boyes in 1977; and Donovan married Tracy Friesen in 1994. In May of 2000, Dad suffered a slight heart attack and subsequently discovered he was diabetic. With Mom’s passing to pancreatic cancer in November of 2002, he faced the greatest loss of his life. He grieved and adjusted with God’s grace and with a healthy perspective. He continued to take pride in keeping a clean house. He explored with recipes in the kitchen and made many a tasty soup and stew, along with pickles and even gooseberry moos. In February of 2007, he was diagnosed with kidney failure, and began renal dialysis three times a week in July of that year. Due to a lack of available space at the Cypress Regional Hospital in Swift Current, he needed to travel to Regina General Hospital for these treatments. He eventually got his Wednesday dialysis right in S.C. and was so appreciative of the staff and their care given at both hospitals. After not feeling well for several weeks, Dad was admitted to Cypress Regional Hospital in Swift Current with severe back pain on August 2, 2008. From there he was transferred to Regina General Hospital on August 7 where he remained until his passing. A cancerous tumor was found on his spine. Radiation treatments were given for pain management but no other recourse was available. He peacefully slipped away at 10:07 AM on Wednesday, Sept.10 with a brief smile and eyes opened to heaven.
Melvin Epp was predeceased by his parents: Heinrich in 1942 and Aganetha in 1966; wife: Ruby (nee Dirks) in 2002; brothers: Albert in infancy, Jake, Sam, and Edward; sisters: Mary Schmidt, Mattie Dirks, and Margaret Epp (on Sep.7/08!); brothers-in-law: Albert Schmidt, Alfred Dirks, and Sylvester Dirks; sisters-in-law: Alvina Epp, Mary Epp, Eliza Epp, and Selma Epp. Dad is survived by daughter: Marlene & Ellery Pullman (Caronport, SK) and their children, Jana & Derek Brawner (Winnipeg, MB), Kara & Steve Paulson (Caronport, SK) and Alissa Pullman (Caronport, SK), daughter: Muriel & David Boyes (Winkler, MB) and their children, Kelly & Sean Morgan (Stratford, ON), and Jody Boyes (Winnipeg, MB), and son: Donovan & Tracy Epp (Herbert, SK); brother: Henry (Abbotsford, BC); sisters-in-law: Sadie Epp (Steinbach, MB), Ann & Ray Luhr (Estevan, SK), and Meta Wiebe (Saskatoon, SK); brothers-in-law: Eldin & Olive Dirks (Saskatoon, SK), Irvin & Neoma Dirks (Waldheim, SK); and many nieces, nephews and good friends. We will feel this loss intensely in the coming days but we do not sorrow as those who have no hope. “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15. Dad will remain forever in our hearts until our own day of reunion. The Funeral Service was held on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 3:30 pm from the Bridgeway Community Church, Swift Current, SK with Pastor David Pollard officiating. The pianist was Verna Martens. Pastor Alvin Buhler brought the Welcome, Scripture & Prayer. “My Hope Is In the Lord”, “My Savior’s Love” and “To God Be the Glory” were sung by the congregation under the direction of Ed Regier. Tributes were presented by Sandra Klassen, Dan Siebert, Bill Wall, Gerry & Ruth Epp and a PowerPoint presentation. “The River” was sung by the Epp family with Donovan Epp also sharing the life history. The ushers were Dave Fehr, Isaac Harder, Dale Krahn, Bill Friesen and Harold Langendoen. The Interment preceded the Funeral Service and was held at the Rhineland Cemetery, Rhineland, SK with the following serving as pallbearers, Richard Epp, Terry Epp, Bob Schmidt, Dennis Schmidt, Carey Dirks and Murray Epp. In memory of Melvin Epp, donations made to the Gideons International or to the Regina General Hospital-Renal Unit would be appreciated by the family. Funeral arrangements were in care of Swift Current Funeral Home, Swift Current, SK. |
