PETER HENRY EPP -

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PETER HENRY EPP 1909 - 2003 Peter died at Concordia Hospital on November 26 following only a brief illness. He will be forever missed and kept in memory by Hedie; Helmut and Phyllis; grand and great-grandchildren, Linda, Carlyn and Danielle; Greg; Lorraine and Jeff, Jeffy and Jonathan; Peter; Susan and Tim, Colin; sister Helen Dyck and sisters-in-law Elizabeth Epp and Jessie Giesbrecht in Winnipeg; brothers, Abe (Tina), and Isaac; sister-in-law Tillie Epp in Ontario; beloved nieces and nephews, cousins, friends and neighbours. Gone before him were his wife, Anne (Annchen) a daughter in infancy; daughter-in-law, Sharon; brothers, John, Henry, Jack, George, David and two in childhood in Russia; their sister Tina, and also several brothers and sisters-in-law. Peter was born in the "Old Colony", Ukraine, amongst the oldest of a large family who later moved to the German Mennonite farming village, Arkadak, Russia. His parents, out of concern for the growing political instability that followed the Communist Revolution that felt threatened their future, seized on a chance to join a shipload of people emigrating to Canada. They arrived in Halifax in August 1925, and then travelled by train to Winnipeg, where the entire family was taken to Morris, MB, finding work on farms in that area. Soon the family established their own farming operation at Morris and later at Elm Creek. Peter met Anne (Dyck) and after their marriage in 1936 they set up their own farm near Elm Creek. They eventually relocated to Starbuck, then to Springstein and then to Winnipeg, while continuing to farm at St. Francois Xavier until his retirement in 1976. Their retirement years in Winnipeg were happy ones, centering on their large extended families and friends and the activities of First Mennonite Church. They moved from their home in Westwood to Donwood West, then to ArlingtonHaus, and finally to BethaniaHaus and Bethania, respectively, as their needs changed. Peter was known for his friendliness to all, his interest in the activities of those who were important to him - his children, of course, and then his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But just as much, he was interested in and cared about his many relatives and friends. He remained optimistic about life right to the end. Even after the loss of his wife of 65 years in 2001, he regained his balance and found new ways to fill his time, connecting with new people after the loss through death of one friend after another. Peter was appreciative for the caring Bethania and BethaniaHaus communities and the options these afforded him to remain independent during the last 4 and one half years of his life. His family would like to recognize this contribution by publicly thanking those staff, volunteers and neighbours who responded to him so warmly. There were many. Adina, Leni and Jake, the Home Care staff, were especially important to him in the more recent past. Anyone wishing to do so, instead of sending flowers, is invited to make a small donation in their fathers memory to the "Bethania Memorial Fund" designated for the furnishing and equipping of the newly built Tea House in which he showed great interest. The service of remembrance will be held on Monday, December 1 at 10:30 a.m. at First Mennonite Church, 922 Notre Dame Ave. A brief meditation and viewing service will be held in the Chapel at Bethania Personal Care Home, 1045 Concordia Ave. on Sunday, November 30 at 7:00 p.m. Klassen Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements. 338-0331.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 29, 2003