ELDON JOHN EPP Rev. Eldon John Epp, 72, of Wichita, Kansas, passed away Sunday, October 29, 2023 at his home. He was born on September 1, 1951 in Hutchinson, Kansas, the son of John Regier and Katharina (Ediger) Epp. Eldon grew up on a cattle farm south of Buhler. He graduated from Buhler High School with the class of 1969. Eldon later attended Hutchinson Community College and Bethel College, where he received his undergraduate. Following his schooling, Eldon worked on a year-round team managing Swan Lake Christian Camp near Freeman, South Dakota for 2 Â½ years. He then headed off to the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana and graduated with his Master's degree of Divinity. The summer following his seminary, Eldon student pastored at First Mennonite Church of Christian in Moundridge. In 1981, he started pastoring at the new Mennonite Church in Salina and in 1988 went to Ames, Iowa for a Â½ time post with the campus-related Mennonite Fellowship there. In 1993, Eldon began two years of chaplaincy training at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, followed by three years at the Manhattan, KS Mennonite Church. Eldon moved to Wichita in 2007, and in 2009, he began pastoring at First Mennonite Church in Ransom, Kansas until 2021. His most recent positions were Chaplain for Bethesda Home in Goessel and Associate Pastor at Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church in Wichita. Eldon served on the stewardship team for the Western District Conference and was a member of the Christian Peacemaker Team. He is survived by his sister, Dee Graber (Gary Clingenpeel), her daughter, Tammy (Brian) Coatney and their daughter, McKenna (Cannon) Kern; brother, Don (Annette) Epp, and their sons, Henry Epp (Sara Lewis), and Andrew (Taisha) Epp and their children, Isaiah, Izabella, and Lincoln. Eldon was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, Raymond Epp; and great-nephew, Clay Coatney. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, November 5, 2023 at Buhler Municipal Cemetery. Memorial services will follow at 3 p.m., at the Buhler Mennonite Church, 220 W Avenue B, Buhler, KS. The services will be livestreamed at www.youtube.com/@BuhlerMennoniteChurch. Family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday, November 4, at Buhler Mortuary. Memorial contributions may be made to Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church in care of Buhler Mortuary, PO Box 589, Buhler, KS 67522.

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Published by The Kansan from Nov. 1 to Nov. 4, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for ELDON EPP

Sponsored by Buhler Mortuary.

5 Entries

Roger Harms

July 11, 2024

I was privileged to know Eldon as a friend, as that tenor beside me in the Lorraine Avenue Church Choir, and as a chaplain at Wesley Medical Center.
We spent a good deal of time together considering the vicissitudes of life, as we both witnessed the struggles of so many people facing death and the disability of on going disease or aftermath from trauma....and the many joys of improvement and healing, to be certain. Eldon was always kind and thoughtful, with considerable mastery of Christian teaching and tradition--and steadfast in his practice and promotion of our non-violent Mennonite ways. (yes, he was the better tenor)
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Ed Beasley

November 3, 2023

Eldon was the kindest, gentlest person I have known. His passing is a great loss.

Betsy Ediger Hildebrand

November 1, 2023

Among the things I loved about Eldon was his commitment to simply showing up, not only with his presence but with an open heart and open hands. I'm not aware that he missed a single family reunion, often being one of the first to commit. Along with his wit and puns-ability, he brought his words of encouragement and unconditional support. We will miss him.

Linda Gebert

November 1, 2023

Eldon was always friendly and caring, asking how things were going - not in a superficial way, but in a really caring and interested way. He will be sorely missed by longtime LAMC friends.

Sharon Eicher

November 1, 2023

Eldon always greeted me as "Sister" and my husband as "Brother." That made me feel special. Eldon acknowledged us as brothers and sisters in Christ.

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