Eldon John Epp, 72, of Wichita, Kan., died Oct. 29, 2023, at his home. He was born on September 1, 1951, in Hutchinson, Kan., the son of John Regier and Katharina (Ediger) Epp.

He grew up on a cattle farm south of Buhler and graduated from Buhler High School in 1969. He attended Hutchinson Community College and Bethel College.

After his schooling, Eldon worked on a year-round team managing Swan Lake Christian Camp near Freeman, S.D., for two and a half years. He then went to Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind., where he earned a master of divinity degree. The summer after his seminary training, he student pastored at First Mennonite Church of Christian in Moundridge. In 1981, he started pastoring at Salina Mennonite Church and in 1988 went to Ames, Iowa, for a half-time post with the campus-related Mennonite Fellowship there.

In 1993, he began two years of chaplaincy training at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, followed by three years at Manhattan Mennonite Church in Kansas. He moved to Wichita in 2007 and in 2009 began pastoring at First Mennonite Church in Ransom, Kan., until 2021. His most recent positions were chaplain for Bethesda Home in Goessel and associate pastor at Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church in Wichita.

He served on the stewardship team for Western District Conference of Mennonite Church USA and was a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams.

He is survived by a sister, Dee Graber (Gary Clingenpeel); a brother, Don (Annette) Epp; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, Raymond Epp; and a great-nephew.

Memorial services were held at the Buhler Mennonite Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church.