Obit: Eppling, Frederick J. #2 (1863 - 1918)

Contact: Ann Stevens
Email: ann@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Eppling, Dangers, Rusark, Haase, Thom, Hillemonn, Schley, Brandt, Clemens, Free, Becker, Senski, Hensel, Rheinartz, Miller, Churchill, Bamas, Bander, Sebilski, Treichel

----Source: Neillsville Times (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 12/5/1918

Eppling, Frederick John (30 JUL 1863 – 27 NOV 1918)

Rev. Frederick John Eppling, the first pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Neillsville, died Wednesday, Nov. 27, at his home in Portland, Oregon. The body was brought to Neillsville for burial and services were held at the home of Mrs. Dangers, Mrs. Eppling’s mother, Monday, conducted by Rev. Rusark, of Marathon City; Rev. A.C. Haase of St. Paul, Minnesota; Rev. Thom, of Marshfield; Rev. Hillemonn, of Medford; Rev. Schley, of Algoma; and Rev. Brandt, the local pastor. The burial was in Neillsville Cemetery. Beautiful music at the funeral was rendered by Mrs. Ray Clemens, Miss May Free and Miss Gertrude Becker.

Rev. Eppling was well known here, where he was pastor of the local church for some 24 years after the organization of the congregation. He was born in Kirchaugen, Canada, July 30, 1863, and came with his parents to Wisconsin at the age of seven years. After his confirmation he attended college at Watertown and took a post-graduate course at Capitol University, at Columbus, Ohio. His theological studies were pursued at the seminary at Wauwatosa.

He came to Neillsville as a theological student in 1886, to preach for the congregation here and when organization was affected, he was called to the pastorate. He was ordained in 1887. October 8, 1888, he was married to Miss Clara Dangers. Seven children were born to them, two of whom died in infancy.

In 1890 he accepted a call to the pastorate at Algoma, where he served for 20 years. During his pastorate the churches at Algoma and Kalberg were built, as well as the one at Neillsville. In the Spanish-American War, Rev. Eppling served as chaplain and after the war returned to Algoma.

On account of his health he resigned his pastorate there and returned to Neillsville, where he lived for a time, then going to Portland, Oregon, where he was called to a mission. He was also camp pastor at a camp near Portland and at Vancouver Barracks.

His death came suddenly. He leaves his widow, two sons, three daughters, Helen, Elfrida and Lillian, one brother, three sisters and many friends to mourn his death.

Services were held at Portland before shipment of the body, at Hamilton Chapel, where the chapel was filled with sorrowing friends from all over the city. His two eldest daughters were ill and could not come to the funeral, but the youngest daughter, Lillian, was present. One son, Lieutenant A. Eppling, who was stationed in North Carolina, was here, but the other son, Lieutenant Fred Eppling, could not be reached in time for him to get here before the funeral. Others here from a distance were August Senski, a sister, and her son, Rev. O.H. Hensel, of Wausau, Mrs. J.C. Rheinartz, a sister, of East Liverpool, Ohio, Mrs. Carl Miller, a sister, of Milwaukee, Carl Miller, of the Great Lakes Training Station, Mrs. B.P. Churchill and daughter, Betty, of Milwaukee, Miss Emma Bamas, of Algoma, Mrs. Frank Bander, and H. Sebilski, of Algoma, Charles Eppling, the brother, of Chicago, and Miss Lydia Treichel, of Milwaukee.