Henry H. Epp

1925 - 2010

Mary and Henry Epp, 1970. Family photo.

Henry H. Epp: minister, visionary and conference administrator; born 23 March 1925 in Winkler, Manitoba Canada to Heinrich & Anna (Enns) Epp, as oldest child of 13 and the first son.

He married Mary Reimer (31 March 1928-11 April 2010), daughter of Johann and Elizabeth (Fast) Reimer, on 26 August 1950 in the Waterloo-Kitchener Mennonite Church. They had seven children–twin girls died prematurely.

Henry Epp died at the Vineland United Mennonite Home on 28 January 2010.

He was baptized at Lena, Manitoba Mennonite Church in 1942. His elementary education was in the one room school called Plum Hollow, near Lena, Manitoba, and he completed his high school education at Mennonite Collegiate Institute (MCI) in Gretna, Manitoba. Henry H. Epp completed a BA at the University of Western Ontario (1951) and a MDiv. from Bethany Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois (1958). He also took courses through Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington (1978-1979).

As a Conscientious to war in 1944, Henry Epp worked as a ward attendant at the Brandon Mental Hospital for an 18-month term, before enrolling at Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas in 1946. In 1948 he went to the Waterloo-Kitchener United Mennonite Church (WKUM) in Ontario -–first as assistant minister to Jacob H. Janzen, and then as leading minister. He was ordained in this church in October 1948.

Henry and Mary went to South America in 1953 at the request of the. General Conference of North America Mission Board. He ministered to a Mennonite congregation in Asuncion, Paraguay and taught at the Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Montevideo Uruguay He returned to the WKUM Church in 1958 and ministered there until 1965.

The family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1966, where he was Executive Secretary of the Education and Publication Board for the Conference of Mennonites in Canada (CMC) until 1974. Here he wrote Christian educational material, articles for Mennonite periodicals and also functioned as the archivist for CMC. During this time, he was a charter member of the Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship helping to write their covenant in 1967. In 1974 he accepted the position as lead minister in the Vineland United Mennonite Church in Ontario.

In 1978 a move was made to British Columbia, where he was involved in the ministry of the Yarrow United Mennonite Church (1979-1982) and the Kelowna First Mennonite Church (1983-1986).

Henry H. Epp was a founding member of Conrad Grebel University College and served on its first board. In the early 1950s he served as vice chairman for the Conference of Historic Peace Churches. He served as the first chairman of Mennonite Central Committee Ontario in 1965. He was also a board member of MCI in Gretna.

In his later years Henry Epp created a policy manual for the Kelowna Board of Education and researched and developed a government-funded Seniors' Outreach Program under the umbrella of the Salvation Army. In his retirement he began to write his memoirs, A Place on Planet Earth, which he never completed due to Alzheimer’s disease.

Music was very important to him, he had a great voice and loved to sing, first alongside his mother, with his siblings and then his own family. He and Mary started several hand-bell choirs. Henry H. Epp chaired the commission which produced the Gesangbuch der Mennoniten (1965) and Handbuch zum Gesangbuch der Mennoniten (1966).



With the support of his wife Mary, Henry was actively involved in ministry, committee work, writing, and furthering the vision of the Mennonite church.

After growing up on the family farm in Lena, Manitoba, Epp graduated from Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna. He served for 18 months as a conscientious objector at the Brandon Mental Hospital, then began his pastoral ministry at Waterloo-Kitchener United Mennonite Church. He married Mary Reimer during that time.

From 1953-55, Epp pastored in Asuncion, Paraguay, and then taught for a year at Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Montevideo, Uruguay. He returned to Waterloo-Kitchener United Mennonite until 1966. He was one of the founders of Conrad Grebel College. He also was secretary of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada from 1959-1961. From 1966-1974, Epp was executive secretary of the Education and Publication Board of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada. Epp also pastored at Vineland United Mennonite Church, Yarrow United Mennonite Church and Kelowna First Mennonite Church before his retirement in 1986.

Henry Epp passed away in Vineland Ontario. He was survived by his wife Mary and their children: Esther Kaethler, Anneli Epp, Mary Eleanor Penner, Henry Epp Jr. and Robert Epp.

Burial was at the Vineland, Ontario Cemetery.



Mary (Reimer) EPP

1928 - 2010

Mary Epp passed away at home on Sunday April 11, 2010, surrounded by her family. She was predeceased by her loving husband Rev. Henry H. Epp on January 28, 1910 and by their twin daughters in 1952.

Mary was born 31 March 31 1928, daughter of Johann and Elizabeth (Fast) Reimer,

Mary is survived by children, Esther and Fred Kaethler, Anneli Epp, Mary Eleanor and Ken Penner, Henry John Epp and Winn Braun, Robert Paul and Cheryl Epp.

She is also survived her grandchildren, Norman & Terra Kaethler, Anneli Kaethler and Derek Morin, Martin and Stephanie Kaethler, Elizabeth Braul, Loren Braul, Lori Dueck, Rachel Braul, Andrew Penner and Brigitte Desrochers, Amy and Mike Dueck, Kenton Penner, Kaitlin and Tim Schulz, Tyler Epp, Mikala Epp, Emily Epp, Elan Epp, Erin Epp and great grandchildren, Emmit Dueck, Trenton Dueck, Violet Dueck, Drake Dueck and Nora Kaethler.

The family received friends at the VINELAND CHAPEL of the TALLMAN FUNERAL HOMES, 3277 King St. on Friday, April 16th.

A Memorial Service was be held at the Kitchener/Waterloo United Mennonite Church, George St., Waterloo.

Burial was at the Vineland, Ontario Cemetery.