Herman P. and Gertrude Lepp
Herman Peter Lepp (1903-1966) was the son of Peter P. Lepp (1867-1921) who. In turn was the grandson of Master Peter Lepp (1817-1871). It was Master Peter Lepp who established the Lepp factory in Chortitza, which after his premature death, became known as the Lepp-Wallman Factory.
Peter P. Lepp became displeased with the administration of the factory in Chortitza and as a result sold his share of the family holdings to his cousin. They left Chortitza and settled on an estate in Beristowoja, Bachmutter Kreis, in the Ukraine, which is where Herman, the youngest of five children, was born.
Gertrude Lepp (1904-1989) was the daughter of Henry Peter Unger (1882-1968) who, in turn was the son of Peter Henry Unger (1857-1933). Peter Unger owned flour mills located in New York, Grieschino, and Swatowa.
Gertrude’s mother was Helena Unrau Unger (1883-1974) the daughter of Ältester Abram Unrau (1856-1930). Gertrude was born in New York, the oldest of five children, and spent her childhood in Swatowa where her father operated the mill.
Herman and Gertrude married on April 18, 1926, in New York. Later that year, they left for Canada and stayed with Gertrude’s parents in Waterloo, Ontario.
When Herman was unable to find employment in the Waterloo area, Ältester J. Janzen introduced him to a government program which involved settling the Northern Ontario great Clay Belt. On December 8, 1926 he arrived in Reesor where a small Mennonite settlement was being established.
Herman was ordained by Ältester Janzen on June 18, 1927, at the age of twenty-four years. Herman’s response the small Reesor congregation was taken from Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord, your God is with you wherever you go”.
Gertrude, still in Waterloo, gave birth to their first child in January of 1927. In April she and son Rudolf Ernest joined Herman in Reesor. Conditions were harsh; little Rudy slept in a bologna basket in the partially completed log cabin which measured sixteen by seven feet.
Feeding the family became a serious concern. One night, when things seemed particularly grim, Herman and Gertrude went to bed committing their plight to the Lord in prayer. The next morning, when Herman went to tend the fire, he found a letter lying on the floor. A neighbour returning from the store brought them their mail, and had slipped the letter in the door the night before. The Mission Board, hearing of their circumstances, had sent the letter which contained some money and an offer to send Herman to Winnipeg for surgery on his hernia. Herman and Gertrude experienced first hand the message of Isaiah 58:9a, “Even before they ask I will answer their prayers”.
The twins Heinrich and Hedwig were born when Rudolf was eighteen months old. Gertrude had six diapers and three babies. Another eighteen months brought the arrival of Irene, followed by Herman and Peter.
In a 1936 report, L .H. Hanlen, fieldman for the Northern Ontario Department of Agriculture, note the following about Herman: “this man is only 33 years old and is not very strong and yet I believe that he is a strength to his people. That is, he is optimistic and always giving a word of encouragement”.
Herman had no theological training and had to work hard at preparing his weekly sermons. Whenever Mrs. Isaak saw the lamplight in Herman’s attic window, she faithfully prayed an intercessory prayer on his behalf. Herman was always on pastoral duty; he served two churches in the Reesor area, one of which was seven miles away. He managed to get there on foot or on skis. Sometimes, in bad weather, he would arrive with only the caretaker there to greet him. People often left messages with the caretaker requesting a visit from Herman. Even under the most adverse conditions, Herman would follow up on these requests from his flock.
Herman invented a one-runner sleigh with a transverse push-bar. It ran in the ski track and could carry a one hundred weight of flour, sugar, etc.. These sleighs became very popular and were used for a variety of purposes including transporting small children. Herman’s hobbies included woodcarving and oil painting which usually depicted the reality of nature. His poetry often spoke of life in Reesor; some of his writings appeared in Der Bote
John Enns of Reesor, wrote: “He served this Reesor church faithfully for seventeen years. He took his work seriously and served his flock with unfailing devotion and dedication until his departure from Reesor. He ardent and artistic nature was often reflected in the spirited, challenging and uplifting delivery of his sermons”.
The Lepp family left Reesor in 1943 and eventually settled in Harrow, Ontario. Herman continued his pastoral duties in the Leamington United Mennonite Church. Here he was one of eight ministers. Services were also held in the Harrow area until their church was built in 1951. The group remained a part of the Leamington church until January of 1953 when it obtained its own charter and became the Harrow United Mennonite Church with Herman as the pastor
On August 21, 1953, Ältester J.J.Thiessen from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ordained Herman as Ältester. His response was from John 21:17, “and Jesus asked him a second time, do you love me?”
Herman’s pastoral involvement extended well beyond the Harrow church. He made several trips to Pelee Island, and returned to Reesor many times. All this eventually took a toll on his health; during a service in 1965, Herman lost consciousness and fell into the pulpit. The diagnosis was bleeding ulcers which forced him back into the hospital many times. On January 13, 1966, Herman underwent surgery in Leamington from which he was unable to recover. He passed away on January 25, 1966. Thus ended his thirty-nine years of service. Gertrude continued life as a widow for twenty-three years before she was called home on July 21, 1989.
Herman and Gertrude are buried in a cemetery near Leamington “At rest from their labours.”
Daughter Hedy Dennis
London, Ontario
