Donald M. Epp

Donald Mark Epp was born on December 22, 1959 to Willard and Elsie Epp in Freeman, South Dakota.  Donald grew up on the farm near Marion, the first of six siblings. 

            The Epp children loved playing together on the farm on the hill above the West Vermillion River. Fishing was a favorite activity.

             Donald’s first three years of education took place in a one-room schoolhouse at Riverdale Country School. During the harsh winter of 1968-69 Donald and Stanley walked the one mile to school sometimes up one side of a snowdrift and down the other, over and over again.

            For his fourth grade year, Don and the other children all started to “town school” in Marion where he would continue through his sophomore year in High School. 

            Don loved outdoor activities like hunting and fishing.  During junior high he took up trapping, first for rabbits and then other fur-bearing animals.  He would go out very early before school started, even in subzero weather, to run his trap lines. During his high school years the family woke up many mornings to find muskrats, coons, possum, mink, and even skunks hanging from the top bar of the swing set.

            When he transferred from Marion High School to Freeman Academy for his junior year Don won the affectionate nickname “Beaver” from his classmates after showing off his catch of several of the large rodents one morning at school.

            During these years Don also developed a love for fast cars and riding motorcycles of any kind, especially his Harley.

            After obtaining his high school diploma upon graduation from Freeman Academy in May 1978, Don took several farm and factory jobs, where he was known as a very hard worker.

              In February of 1979, Don joined the army and was stationed for two years as an artillery crewman in Nurnberg, Germany. He returned to the US in 1981 and was stationed at Fort Sill, OK for the remainder of his service.  During his time in the military he earned the expert badge for the M-16 rifle.

            After leaving the service, Don returned to the farm in South Dakota and worked several jobs in the agriculture industry.  A high point in his life came when he encountered Jesus in a powerful way and started on the road to freedom from substance abuse.  During those days Don would ride his motorcycle down the main streets of local towns and shout, “Praise King Jesus!”

            In 1988 Don moved to Kansas to live with his parents, where he worked some in agriculture, and enjoyed going to energetic churches and supporting Christian ministries, often boldly proclaiming King Jesus.

            Several health issues plagued Don throughout his life, and his family continued to love, support and pray with him.  In his later years when he lived in the nursing home, he enjoyed visits with family, going on long walks, and eating MacDonald’s Quarter Pounders with cheese.

            Don passed away at Pittsburgh Care and Rehab in Pittsburgh Kansas on November 3, 2020.

            He is survived by brothers Stan (Esther), and Bryan (Janell); sisters Roselyn Mostert (Johan), and Rachel Winters (David); and numerous nieces and nephews.  Preceding him in death are his parents, Willard and Elsie Epp, and his sister Naomi Engle (Jess). A Burial service will be held at 11:00, Saturday, January 6^th at Greenwood Cemetery for family and friends.