Edwin Jay Knepp

Edwin Jay Knepp went home to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, September 22, 2013. He was in declining health in his later years and died in his home near Macon, MS.

Edwin was born to the late Samuel and Martha Knepp on March 18, 1929 at Plain City, Ohio. He was joined in matrimony to Tressa Schrock on May 6, 1951, and they had seven children. In 1953, at the age of 24, he was ordained to the call of ministry in the Mennonite Church. He served there with additional leadership for six years, before moving to Noxubee County, Mississippi in 1959 at Macon. There he served as pastor at the Magnolia Mennonite Church for 34 years. In 1994, Edwin and Tressa moved to Taylorsville, MS where he served at the Maranatha Mennonite Church for six years. They returned to Noxubee County in 2001.

While living in Indiana, Edwin was involved in dairy farming. After moving to Mississippi he joined in partnership with the Ezra Schrock family in the Macon Ready-mix Concrete Co. After retiring from the concrete company in 1983 he built the Sunbelt Meat Company at Macon.

Survivors include his wife of sixty-two years, Tressa Schrock Knepp, five daughters, Sharon (Dale) Miller, of Severn, NC, Grace (Merlin) Martin of Conrath, WI, Jewel (Mervin) Miller, Shirlene (Jay) Hoover, and Kathy (the late Tim) Graber, all of Macon. In addition he leaves two sons, Gaylord (Kay) Knepp of Canon City, CO, and Phillip (Mary Ellen) Knepp, also of Macon. He also was blessed with 35 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Visitations will be held Wed., Sept. 25, at 2 pm. – 4pm. and 6:30 pm. - 9 pm at Magnolia Mennonite Church, Macon, MS. Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 26 at 10 am. at the Magnolia Mennonite Church, Macon, MS. Paul Shirk, Jan Heisey, and Ben Graber will officiate the services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Horizon Ministries, P.O. Box 1500, Canon City, CO 81215. Cockrell Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. To sign online guest book, please visit www.cockrellfuneralhome.com