Was born to Scandinavian immigrants, August and Ella Johnson on August 2, 1929. She passed away quietly on March 14, 2013 with the blessings of her children and grandchildren. “Tootsie” was born in Berwyn, Illinois and with her parents, and brother, Rudy, they worked their way west, eventually settling in Santa Barbara in 1947. In 1952 she married Adolph Bareno and they began their family, with first a daughter and then a son.
Joan worked as a Switchboard operator at the Phone Company and also at Ott’s Department store before being a stay at home Mom. In the sixties she and her husband started a very popular retail business in La Cumber Plaza. The last twenty plus years were spent managing apartment complexes in and around Santa Barbara. She was very good at her job and her tenants loved her. She didn’t retire until she was 82 years old.
She loved to go to the casino and play the slots and also hit the thrift stores for treasures. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, mother-in-law and friend to many. “Tootsie” was a fiery little woman and always made us laugh with her comments and antics and she will be horribly missed.
She is survived by her Daughter, Annette Watkins (Gary) and grandchildren Lindsay and Garrett and her Son, James Bareno (Melanie) and Granddaughter Serena. She is predeceased by her ex-husband and best friend, Adolph Bareno, brother Rudy and granddaughter Holly Bareno. Fly with the Angels, Mom. Private arrangements have been made.
