James Earl Yehl

Raised in Alleghany-Olean, New York, Jim was educated in Catholic schools and attended Archbishop Walsh Academy, John Carroll University, and Case Western Reserve. He served in the U.S. Army/National Guard, graduating as a Sergeant and earning the Post Commander’s Physical Training Award at Fort Dix in 1968.

Jim was a gifted athlete and innovator whose passion for skiing shaped much of his life. The son of a ski-area owner, Rene' Yehl & Pauline Yehl. He became a Class A downhill racer and later one of the first Midwest sales representatives for Lange Ski Boots, helping introduce the world’s first plastic ski boot. His career took him across the U.S. and Europe, where he lived in Switzerland, building ski lifts and becoming fluent in German and Swiss German.

Alongside his wife, Mara, Jim worked as a sales representative across multiple states and later co-owned Jones Optical, where he helped develop groundbreaking, optically correct lenses for skiing and motocross. His work in air filtration technology through American Environmental Systems led to multiple patents and installations in major corporations worldwide.

Jim approached everything he did with intensity and competitiveness. He was driven to excel, to win, and to push limits, sometimes beyond what his body could sustain. That same drive, however, was inseparable from his brilliance, his charisma, and his ability to inspire admiration in others.

He is survived by his wife, Mara; his daughter, Kristian; his son, Dane & Dane's wife, Nicole; his grandchildren, Willy, Jamie, and Connie Moley; their father, Timothy Moley; Jim's brother, Jeffery, and Nancy Yehl, Holly Yehl & Kyle, and extended family in Ohio and New York. Jim will be remembered for the force of his presence, the breadth of his talents, and the passion with which he lived his life.

Jim Yehl served the Lefthand Fire Protection District with distinction for 16 years, starting in 2001 and ending in 2016.

Jim's enthusiasm and zeal were infectious; he brought a certain joy to learning the craft of firefighting, both structural and wildland. He had opportunities to serve out of state on wildland fire, rising to the level of Engine Boss and receiving accolades for the work that he and his crews did. He was trained as an EMT to be able to respond to district medical calls as well. He rose to the rank of Battalion Chief and held primary responsibility for one of the fire stations. Jim was always the model of fitness, encouraging his fellow members to stay ready for the tasks to come. We thank Jim for his service and his family for their support while Jim served.