x
Breaking News
More () »

Eden Prairie school grieving loss of principal

On Monday, police found 67-year-old Joe Epping in his car at Cedar Ridge Elementary School. Authorities believe Epping died of natural causes, but the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet released the official cause of death.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – The Eden Prairie community continues to grieve a giant of the local school district two days after the elementary principal was found dead inside his car.

On Monday, police found 67-year-old Joe Epping in his car at Cedar Ridge Elementary School. Authorities believe Epping died of natural causes, but the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet released the official cause of death.

Meantime, district officials describe Epping – who worked for the district for 27 years – as a “welcoming, gentle, approachable person.” On Wednesday, students hung handmade signs and messages outside Epping’s office. Among the messages written by students: “You are so kind. You are the best.”

“I knew immediately he was going to be a friend of mine for life,” said Connie Hytjan, Principal at Forest Hills Elementary School also in Eden Prairie.
Hytjan pointed out that Epping excelled in his role as principal at all levels of the district, in part by reaching students at their level.

“With Joe, relationships were first, connectedness. Getting to know you. Really paying attention,” she said, adding that he’d take the time to personally greet students.

“He’d be standing outside, greeting them by name, he’d be high-fiving them. He’d be stooping to their level to say hello in the morning, ask them how their basketball game was last night, ask them about their dog,” he said.

And Epping’s service didn’t stop with his students, community officials said, noting his involvement with a local food shelf and homeless shelter.

“He was such a sincere man with a heart. He was funny,” said Janet Palmer with PROP – People Reaching Out to People.

Palmer noted Epping’s passion always seemed to pertain to the youngest in the community.

“Sincere and compassionate guy,” Palmer said about Epping, adding, “Really connected with the kids.”

It was that connection that brought Epping out of retirement last year to accept the interim position at Cedar Ridge. He’d only recently decided to extend that position by another year.

But instead of another year under his leadership, students and staff are both left to deal with the loss of a person and personality impossible, they say, to replace.

“I wish you were here,” wrote another student on a sign.

Before You Leave, Check This Out