RED WING, MN (June 6, 2019) – Janice Mae Eppard, wife of retired Covenant pastor Marvin Eppard, died Wednesday, June 5, 2019. She was 87.
Janice was born on October 24, 1931, in Tracy, Minn., to Walter and Anna Moon.
She earned a teaching degree from Mankato State Teacher’s College and taught at the elementary school in Worthington, Minnesota.
She married Marvin Eppard on August 16, 1952.
Janice had a passion for educating children, and she served as the children’s librarian at the National College of Education in Evanston, Illinois, while her husband attended Garrett Theological Seminary.
The Eppards served United Methodist Church congregations in Madelia, Lakefield, Perham, and Fairmont, Minnesota. They subsequently served Covenant churches in Fairmont and then St. Peters, Missouri.
While in Missouri, she was among the founders of Friends Forever Preschool, where she taught for seven years.
Janice is survived by her husband, Marvin; two daughters, Janette (John) Benzen and Ruth (David) Anderson; two sons, Paul (Maren) Eppard, Robert (Sarah) Eppard; nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren; brothers Frank (Betty) Moon, and Dwight (Jean) Moon.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her sister Mary Ann Moon, her brother Dwayne Moon and her twin sister, Joanne Becklund, who died eight days before Janice.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday June 14, at First Covenant Church, 2302 Twin Bluff Road, Red Wing, 55066. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, with visitation one hour prior.
Memorials may be directed to the building fund at First Covenant Church and Alaska Christian College.
The Companion published an article written by Marv about caring for Janice as she battled Alzheimer’s.
