By Shari Young | June 2025
Meet Jim: From the Delta to Tahoe
Jim Crecelius was born in Stockton, California, and by the age of eight, he was already water skiing on the Delta. Long before licenses and boating regulations, he and his friends were operating powerboats by age 12. His father was a farmer who grew almonds, walnuts, and citrus.
Jim spent a few childhood summers in Tahoe, where his family would rent a cabin. In his 20s, he made frequent weekend trips and quickly learned the importance of gassing up the car before hitting the casinos—just in case.
Family and Career
Jim attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he met Carol in the late ’70s. They married in 1984 and welcomed their daughter, Lauren, in 1986. Lauren and her husband now live in Orange County. Her husband, a Naval Academy graduate, has even sailed with our own Michael Robinson!
Following in his father’s footsteps, Jim owned an almond processing and export company for 30 years. His career took him across the globe, especially to Asia. He loved visiting Hong Kong and admired the culture and work ethic. In India, he gained a deep appreciation for life in the U.S. Despite extensive business travel, he didn’t get much time for sightseeing—he’s never even seen the Great Wall of China.
Tahoe Living and Yacht Club Life
The Creceliuses bought their Tahoe home in 1991 and completely rebuilt it in 2023. (Author’s note: It’s a stunningly gorgeous residence.) They joined the former South Lake Tahoe Yacht Club around 2015, drawn primarily by the social aspect.
Meet Carol
Carol grew up in Bakersfield and moved to Lodi just before her senior year of high school—a relocation she still remembers less than fondly. Today, she’s an avid reader, a self-described master gardener, and has expressed an interest in discovering the wonders of peanut butter whiskey while bunny-watching in the Moose Lodge backyard. (Author’s note: She and I plan to do this together a few times this summer!) Jim adds that Carol is also an incredible cook, including exquisite presentations.
A Joyful Chapter
Jim says he’s at the “happiest point” in his life: married to the same wonderful person for 41 years, free of business obligations, and splitting time between Tahoe and Scottsdale, Arizona. The couple enjoys golfing, hiking, the yacht club, and are also members of the local Moose Lodge.
As I prepared to wrap up, Jim casually mentioned a bonus detail: he owns a ranch called Lonesome Dove just five miles from their Arizona home. Set on two acres, it includes a workshop, office, and commercial kitchen. He’s hosted events there—including a strudel-making class with Swiss Chalet’s Mark Baumann—and even celebrated his 70th birthday with an Elvis impersonator! Always up for a project, he’s now restoring a 1937 John Deere tractor.
What They Love About the Club
When asked what he enjoys most about the yacht club, Jim answered without hesitation: the terrific friendships they have made. Among those they’ve grown close to are Catherine and Kevin, George and Liz-Ann, Shari and David, Linda and Gary, Russ and Debbie, and Leon and Patricia. Carol agreed—and is especially looking forward to more backyard time at the Moose Lodge!
