Vivian Marie Hapeman “Vie” Obern passed away peacefully on June 21, 2015, at the age of 94.

Vivian was born on May 20, 1921, in Park Ridge, Illinois, where she had a wonderful childhood as the youngest of four children. She attended Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, where she graduated with a B.A. in political science in 1942 with her classmate, George Obern. She and George were married at her family home after he joined the Navy during World War II.

With their young son, Vaughn, Vivian and George moved to Santa Barbara, California, in 1947 when George was hired by UC Santa Barbara as public information manager. Vie and George became active in community affairs. She was a dedicated volunteer, serving on many historical and land-preservation organization boards.

Vivian received many recognitions in her lifetime. Among them were two PTA Honorary Service Awards, Santa Barbara’s Woman of the Year (1989), Santa Barbara National Horse Show dedication (1994), Distinguished Alumni Award from Principia College (1996), Pearl Chase Historic Preservation and Conservation Award (1998), and the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation created the George and Vivian Obern Preservation Stewardship Award in their honor.

Vie was a founding member of the Santa Barbara County Trails Council, but one of her major achievements was initiating and helping raise the millions of dollars needed for the construction of the seven-mile Goleta bikeway, which was named The Obern Trail.

Vie is survived by her children, Vaughn Obern, Dale Obern Hoeffliger and Reade Obern; son-in-law Greg Hoeffliger and daughter-in-law Nancy Obern; as well as her four granddaughters, Aimee Hoeffliger Pier, Natalie Hoeffliger Goodwin, Allison Hoeffliger and Megan Hoeffliger; and grandsons-in-law Stacy Pier and Kevin Goodwin. Vie has six great-grandchildren — Thatcher and Porter Pier, Ashlin and Westin Goodwin, and Addison and Levi Hoeffliger — as well as many nieces and nephews.

Thank you to the Care Committee of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Santa Barbara for the dedicated visits to Vie and Abundant Care staff for their care. Vivian appreciated the many others who came to see her and keep her up-to-date on activities.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Vivian’s name to the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, 123 E. Canon Perdido, Santa Barbara 93101; the Santa Barbara County Trails Council, P.O. Box 22352, Santa Barbara 93121; the Principia College Annual Fund, 13201 Clayton Road, St. Louis 63131; or the Care Committee of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, 120 E. Valerio St., Santa Barbara 93101.

A celebration of Vivian’s life will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, August 1, 2015, at the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, 1535 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara 93101.

Guests are invited to wear attire suitable to their affiliation with Vie in such organizations as Fiesta, Trails, de Anza, DUV, Sage Hens and so on.