Mike Mahneke passed away Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 from complications of pneumonia. Mike was born in Chicago on March 8, 1946 to Marguerite and William Mahneke, and lived there with his family until the 1960s when his father’s job brought the family to Santa Barbara.

After finishing his education he enlisted in the U.S. Marines. He was very proud of his service and being a Vietnam veteran.

Shortly after his discharge in 1971 he was involved in a serious motorcycle accident and spent several months in the hospital. After healing he embarked on what would ultimately be his career in automotive repair.

After working for a few shops, Mike started working on his own out of his garage, deciding at some point to specialize in Subarus.

He met Jane in the 1970s, and she convinced him it was finally time to move out of his garage and actually get a shop. At that time Mahneke Motors was born.

Mike started in Santa Barbara, eventually landing in Goleta for the remainder of his time in business.

In 1981 he married Jane and welcomed her children Wendy and Rob into his life.

Mike became involved in several local, state and national industry organizations, rising to several leadership positions as local and state president.

His other passion besides family and business was the Santa Barbara Sports Car Club. He led the organization for several years, and was a major organizer in the annual Starlite Rallye to Las Vegas.

After retirement, he became heavily involved with the Elks and was elected exalted ruler in 2016.

Mike was a unique person who valued honesty and integrity above all else. He had a very contagious personality, and made friends easily everywhere he went.

His advertising at one point for Mahneke Motors was such that everyone from Carpinteria to Goleta seemed to know his name.

His life involved many surgeries from a fused ankle to replacement hips and more. Many of his injuries were a direct result of him either speeding his car around corners or taking a shortcut on crutches and re-injuring himself.

He was well known at Cottage Hospital, at several rehab facilities, and many coffee shops, all favorably.

He always treated customers and staff with generosity and respect. He also always kept a positive attitude no matter what medical issue he was facing at the time, and his life motto which he repeated often was “Life is Good.”

He will be greatly missed by the automotive repair industry, his entire family, and by many friends and associates.
 
Mike is survived by his wife Jane; step-daughter Wendy Wray (Eric) and their children Shelby Wray Trimbur (Dan), and Makenzie Wray; step-son Rob McAfee (Patty) and their children Cameron and Finlay McAfee.

His survivors from the Mahneke family are his sister Maureen; her children Scott and Jeff, and Patricia Luther and her daughter Emily.

There will be a celebration of life for Mike, 1-4 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Elks Lodge on Kellogg Avenue in Goleta.