James Michael Yohe

On March 21, 2024, James Michael Yohe, a former FBI Special Agent and Federal Air Transportation Security Official, passed away peacefully, under hospice care, at his home in Granger, Indiana.

Jim, a loving husband and father, married South Bend, IN native Nancy Farmer on April 25, 1964, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.  After living many years in Vienna, Virginia, Jim and Nancy relocated to Granger, IN in 2006 to spend their golden years. Their only child, Maribeth Yohe, moved to Granger in 2015 to care for her parents.

Jim was born in Allentown, PA on July 15, 1930. He was a 1947 graduate of Central Catholic High School in Allentown.

In 1948, Jim attended Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service in Washington D.C. He financed his college education through his full-time employment at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Headquarters in Washington D.C. During his FBI employment, Jim worked as a fingerprint clerk in the Identification Division, as a senior researcher in the Records Division, as an FBI Tour Leader, and concluded as a secretary in the office of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.

In 1952, after graduating from Georgetown University, Jim served as an Officer, LTJG, in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Worcester, CL 144, and at the U.S. Naval Air Station, Anacostia, DC. He returned to the FBI in 1956 and was appointed Special Agent and served in Detroit, MI on the fugitive squad and in the Washington, DC Field Office on the Russian Counter-Intelligence squad.

In 1962, he joined the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Special Agent in their Investigations and Security office in Los Angeles, CA. Coincidentally, Jim also met his bride, Nancy, in Los Angeles through mutual friends from Notre Dame. He later served as a Chief Investigator in FAA’s Los Angeles and Honolulu, Hawaii offices.

In 1969, Jim was promoted to Deputy Director, Office of Investigations and Security, FAA, Washington DC as a result of a rash of airline hijackings during the late 1960s. FAA advised airlines to install metal detectors and to search and seal carry-on luggage. Jim’s organization was renamed the Office of Air Transportation Security and was tasked and expanded to monitor and guide the airport and airlines voluntary efforts. Hijackings continued so FAA issued emergency regulations making passenger screening mandatory. FAA initially provided metal detectors for some 500 airports in the United States and regulated passenger and baggage screening programs, including the use of the Behavioral Profile Screening and the Sky Marshal protection systems to prevent aircraft hijackings.

During an actual aircraft hijacking in progress, Jim headed the FAA’s Operation Center and coordinated FAA’s operations with the FBI, the involved airlines and airports, and other police agencies to oversee effective communications of all involved to ensure the safety of passengers and crew and the successful termination of the hijacking.

In October 1971, Jim was awarded the federal government’s Silver Medal for Meritorious Service for his “superior leadership and outstanding contributions to the President’s program to prevent air piracy.”

Jim is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute, University of Virginia, and the National Defense University, Fort Myers, Washington, DC. He was awarded a Master's degree from Central Michigan University in 1976.

In 1979, Jim was appointed as the Assistant Inspector General for Investigations for the U.S. Department of the Interior to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in government programs. He served in that position until his retirement in December 1984. He then established his own private investigations firm covering metropolitan Washington, DC.

Jim was among the initial group of retired federal investigators, chosen by the FBI in July 1990 as independent contractors to serve as FBI Special Investigators in the Background Investigations Contract Service. In 2015, after 25 years of service as an FBI Special Investigator, he resigned from the FBI contract investigative program and retired.

Jim is survived by his wife, Nancy Farmer Yohe; their daughter, Maribeth Yohe; his sister, Sister Alice Yohe, S.S.J. of  Flourtown, NJ; four sisters-in-law, Susan (Deming) Yohe, Esther (Allinger) Farmer, Margaret (Wack) Farmer, and Mari (Farmer) Tellson; a brother-in-law, Michael P. Farmer (Rita); and 30 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur V. and Anna (Moran) Yohe; four brothers, John A. "Jack" Yohe, Arthur V. Yohe, Edward A. Yohe, and Joseph T. Yohe; and a sister, Annamae Yohe Myers.

The family would like to thank Elara Caring Skilled Nurse, Aurora Leach RN; Elara Caring Hospice Nurses, Ashley Cruz RN and Elizabeth King RN; and Elara Caring Hospice Social Worker, Sarah Pinter, as well as Jim’s loving Caregiver of 2 years, Mye Macaraeg. You are all angels on earth.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, April 12, 2024, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 52553 Fir Rd., Granger, IN 46530 with visitation one hour prior at the church.

Services will be live streamed and you may use the following links http://stpius.net or http://youtube.com/@stpiusgranger

Donations may be made in Jim’s name to Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, 3717 Fettler Park Dr., Dumfries, VA 22025 or to Elara Caring Hospice Foundation, 900 Cooper St., Jackson MI 49202.

Palmer Funeral Homes – Welsheimer Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.  Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

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