The Washington community mourns the loss of a former county sheriff who was forward-thinking in his approach to emergency responding agencies and spent his life giving back to his community.

Seventy-six year-old Yale H. Jarvis of Washington passed away last Monday following a lengthy battle with Leukemia. An Army Reserves veteran, Jarvis was hired as a Sheriff’s Deputy in 1973 and was appointed to Washington County Sheriff in 1975. He served in that position and as Chief of Police until his retirement in 2004. Current Sheriff Jared Schneider was first hired by Jarvis as a jailer in 1995, and was eventually promoted to sergeant in 2002. Schneider says one of Jarvis’ contributions as sheriff was starting contract law enforcement for the smaller communities in the county, “That started probably about the same time he was taking over as sheriff. I’ve done a lot of research into that and I see documents back in 1975, 1976 when those things were getting set up. So that’s one of the things I think that Yale was really good about was looking at new ideas and a vision for the future and I think that’s rewarded all of us that are still here at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.”

Schneider says Jarvis would often compare working in law enforcement to “living in a glass house,” and he would stress professionalism and getting involved in community groups. Jarvis would often help during the Washington Fire Department’s Pancake Day. Fire Chief Brendan DeLong notes that Jarvis donned a tuxedo at the first Pancake Day held in the new fire station in 2020, “Well I know him and Marvin Jones would come down and help mix the pancake batter for years, were always instrumental in helping the Washington Fire Department. They also were very supportive of our rescue unit, Washington Rescue 92A, and we appreciate that and we’re going to miss him very much.”

Jarvis was a member of the First Christian Church, the Washington Noon Kiwanis, a past president of the Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Association, and served on the Washington Community YMCA Board of Directors. Jones and Eden Funeral Home is in charge of Jarvis’ arrangements, and in lieu of flowers memorials have been established for the Washington Community Y Building Fund for a new swimming pool.