Naomi Ruth Epp Engle, of Wauseon, OH, passed away surrounded by her family at home on Sunday, January 1, 2017. She had been battling brain cancer since September.

Naomi was born on December 8, 1965, in Freeman, South Dakota, to Willard and Elsie (Wiebe) Epp. Raised on a hog farm in Marion, South Dakota, Naomi spent many summers working at Swan Lake Christian Camp. Naomi graduated from high school from Freeman Academy in Freeman, South Dakota, where she met her husband, Jesse. They were married while attending Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Art. While living in Tulsa, she gave birth to three daughters, Anna (27), Grace (25), and Marie (23). She and Jess were also actively involved at Parkside Mennonite Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The family later moved to the Harrisonburg, Virginia area where Naomi continued to lovingly raise her children at the house by the river she loved so much in Bridgewater. During this time, Naomi and Jess discerned their call to enter the ministry together, where she earned a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling at Eastern Mennonite Seminary. They began ministry at Aurora Mennonite Church, near Streetsboro, Ohio, where they were ordained and served for seven years. In 2009, they served as a pastoral team at West Clinton Mennonite Church in Wauseon, where they have been since then. Naomi also served in significant roles in the Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA.

Naomi's hobbies included being a grandma, traveling, playing Scrabble, canning "Triple Berry" jam, and walking her white Lab, Rocket. Naomi was an open, welcoming woman who practiced loving her neighbor. She was a wise and encouraging parent who visited her daughters, whether they lived in Lancaster, Austria, or Japan. She was a beautiful example of a woman in leadership in the church, inspiring and affirming other women as they grew into leadership roles in the church.

She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Jess, daughters Anna, Grace (Ben) Delp, and Marie, granddaughter Naisa Delp, grandson Yonah Delp, sisters Roselyn Parks and Rachel Winters, and brothers Donald, Stan, and Bryan, and father Willard Epp.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Elsie.

Friends may call at West Clinton Mennonite Church from 3-8 pm on Friday, January 6. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 7th, at 4 pm, at West Clinton Mennonite, with a meal following. Naomi will be buried at a later date in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The family suggests memorial gifts be given to the Naomi Engle Women in Ministry Scholarship Fund.