Heidi Stagg

Heidi (formally, Adelheid) Stagg passed away on March 9, 2026. She was 95. She spent 50 years of her long life living, working and volunteering in Goleta and Santa Barbara. She was greatly loved and will be sorely missed.

Heidi was born in 1930 in Darmstadt, Germany. Much of her childhood was spent during the hard years of WWII and its aftermath. A few years after the war, she found a job with the U.S. Military Government as a physical education instructor to local youth. She met Gene Stagg, a U.S. Army officer serving in Germany during that time. They married in 1951 and were devoted to each other for 57 years until Gene passed away in 2008.

When Heidi married Gene, she became an Army wife. Their daughters, Renate and Regina, were both born in Army hospitals where they were posted. From Heidi’s perspective, the most important post was Japan. She was strongly drawn to the art and culture of the country, and from then on, filled their home with Japanese furniture and objects. While living in Tokyo, Heidi did some fashion modeling. After Gene left the Army and her daughters were a little older, Heidi took up modeling again, first in Atlanta, and then in Dallas, wearing the new makeup and styles of the swinging 60s, including the required false eyelashes which she could never wait to take off.

The family moved to Goleta in 1973 when Gene took a position at Raytheon. Looking for a new outlet for her creativity, Heidi found a job with the Lou Rose group of fashion stores then on upper State Street in Santa Barbara. She eventually became the manager and buyer for the main store, and when the business sold, she continued working for the new owners at Lou Rose for DaRue. She was well known for the fashion shows she organized around town. Heidi brought passion to her work; she loved to help women look their best. She worked until she was 78 years old, when she retired to spend full time with Gene, who was 90 by that time. After Gene died, Heidi volunteered in the ER at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where she demonstrated the same commitment she had shown to her fashion career, ultimately receiving an award as the most devoted volunteer.

Although Heidi left Germany in 1951 and never lived there again, she maintained a close relationship with her sister, Ursula. When they were together, on the phone or in person, there was always lots of laughter. Heidi’s daughters have countless fond memories, including of walking all over San Francisco and Santa Monica with their mother in the early years after they left the Army. Heidi walked fast, even when she was in her 80’s. Heidi was a fun grandmother. She enjoyed sharing the best of Santa Barbara with her granddaughters, especially the Natural History Museum and the Zoo. Dogs adored her. She was asked not to greet the security dog at Cottage Hospital because he was so happy to see her that he would forget his duties. Most notably, Heidi was a friend to those in need; she had a special place in her heart for immigrants and for friends bearing responsibility for the long-term care of a loved one.

Heidi is survived by her daughters, Renate Wheeler and Regina Stagg (Joel Feuer), her granddaughters, Ashleigh Wheeler, Anna Feuer (Antón Barba-Kay) and Rebecca Feuer (Daniel Hoy), her nephew, Michael Glemser, and her great-grandson, Emmanuel Barba. Her beloved canine companion, Stanley, now lives with Renate.

The family gives special thanks to the wonderful caregivers of Raya’s Paradise of Los Angeles and Home Instead Senior Care of Santa Barbara who helped take care of Heidi in her last years.

Donations in memory of Heidi can be made to the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation.