Joan Ellen Magenheimer passed away on April 13, 2026 in Santa Barbara. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Jack and Edith (Burke) Peterman on June 24, 1934, Joan always kept her “Midwest values.”
She attended Washington High in Milwaukee, and pledged Tri Sigma national sorority, (Beta Lambda Chapter) graduating from Wisconsin State College in 1956, with a degree in education.
As a child, Joan was active in the performing arts, dancing with her sister Barbara, twirling baton, and playing accordion at community venues. This led to a lifelong passion for music and live performances, especially Broadway musicals, which she passed on to the next generation.
Joan identified herself as a Navy wife, having been married to Capt. Richard Magenheimer for nearly 25 years, and living all over the U.S., including Illinois, Washington, Maine, and South Carolina, as the Navy dictated.
They settled in Santa Barbara in 1970, and it became a base for yearly family trips throughout the country.
Joan caught the travel bug, and after several years of teaching elementary and high school, she became a licensed Cruise Travel Agent, making lots of acquaintances.
Many voyages were taken with her treasured “significant other” Stan Roth, and he remained her lifelong friend, traveling companion and advocate.
Joan organized dozens of large group trips around the world, collecting a huge following of cruise lovers from within the community. Known for her sense of humor (which she referred to joyfully as “the Peterman Wit”), she kept everyone laughing on those long trips. At last count, Joan had visited 70 countries and five continents.
Patriotism was quite important to Joan. She loved her country, and — especially from the 1980s on — supported military-adjacent organizations, such as MOWW, USO, and several veterans’ groups such as the DAV.
She enjoyed nothing better than sharing stories and trivia about World War II, talking to veterans and thanking them for their service. Almost every day, Joan could be found wearing red, white and blue clothing and jewelry.
Additional organizations in Santa Barbara included AAUW, Right to Life, St. Vincent de Paul, National Charity League, several bridge clubs, and a Formal Dining Group where members rotated hosting gourmet dinners.
As “the kids” moved away from Santa Barbara, Stan continued to be a major part of Joan’s life, traveling with her, helping her with household tasks, and being her companion/advocate. The entire family is grateful to Stan for everything, as he was instrumental in making Joan’s last years comfortable.
Joan is survived by her three children Mary Jo Woods (Richard), Dan Magenheimer (Lisa McGee), and the “bonus baby” Jen Arevalo (Pablo); three grandchildren Jess Magenheimer (Joseph Brooks), Peter Magenheimer (Courtney Gosset), and Chris Apfelstadt (Becca); and great-grandkids, Chris’s three children Bennett, Rowe and Henry.
Joan is also survived by her niece Kathy Lichter-Farley (Pat) and several cousins in Wisconsin Michael Bolles (Alison Cote); and her “favorite brother” (in-law) Art Magenheimer (Ann); plus nephews Jeff, Joe and Jason.
She is preceded in death by her parents Jack and Edith; sister Barbara Burke; Richard Magenheimer and Daisy Magenheimer.
A celebration of Joan’s life will be held at 10 a.m. April 21 at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St Vincent de Paul https://www.stvincents-sb.org/, or any veterans group of your choice. God be with you, and Gold bless America.