James I. Fehl, 87, of Lebanon, Ohio passed away on Sunday, August 21st in his home surrounded by his family, under the care of Touching Hearts at Home and Queen City Hospice.

Jim was born December 8th, 1934 to Ivan and Clara Fehl, and grew up in Deer Park, Ohio. A faithful member of Montgomery Road Church of Christ, Jim dedicated his life to full-time christian service in 1951.

After graduating from Deer Park High School in 1952, Jim enrolled in Cincinnati Bible Seminary. However, during freshman orientation activities, he contracted Polio and spent the next 3 years in Cincinnati area hospitals recovering as much as possible from the effects of that disease. In 1955, he re-entered CBS, this time in a wheelchair, and graduated in 1959 as Salutatorian of his class.

After a year of graduate school, Jim accepted a job Standard Publishing as a member of the editorial department, believing this was God's call to ministry. Jim began as an editorial assistant in the Youth Department later transferring to the Adult department. There he was promoted to the editor of the Standard Lesson Commentary, Standard's lesson manual for the teaching of adults. He held that position from 1967 until his retirement in 1994.

While a student at CBS, Jim met Donna (nee Overton) Fehl and they married August 13, 1960. Together they raised a family, and Donna lovingly cared for Jim for over 62 years. Jim is survived by his wife, Donna, his sister Ellie Keeney (Bob), 4 children, son Emery Fehl (Traci) of Kansas City, Mo, daughter Stephanie Fehl of Lebanon, OH, son Adrian Fehl (Jennifer) of Indianapolis, IN, daughter Melissa Barrett (Rob) of Mason, OH, 12 grandchildren, Nathan Fehl (Chelsea), Dylan Fehl, William Strother (Aubrey), Prisca Strother, Jake Luckett (Jean), Addison Fehl (Joy), Mallory Fehl, Darby Fehl, Ethan Fehl, Emma Barrett, Jack Barrett, Holly Barrett, and 5 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Saturday, August 27th from 12-2pm with a funeral service following at 2pm all at the Oswald-Hoskins Funeral Home in Lebanon, Ohio. If desired, memorial contributions may be directed to Christian Village Communities at 411 Western Row Road, Mason, OH 45040 or International Disaster Emergency Service at 355 Park 32 West Drive, Noblesville, IN 46062-9218.