September 4, 2024
Upbeat, positive, and always smiling, Joan Doris Miller Egbert passed gracefully and peacefully on September 4th in Ventura, CA. Affectionately known as Joni, she was born in Bergen County, NJ, the beloved firstborn daughter of Charles and Frieda Miller. Joni grew up in Cliffside Park, NJ, surrounded by a large, loving, and boisterous Italian family, including her younger brother, Robert. Her February 6th childhood birthday celebrations were legendary and this tradition continued.
A proud graduate of Cliffside High, class of 1956, Joni had a keen interest in literature and was an excellent student. Her enthusiasm for cheerleading, dance performances, and her vibrant Italian heritage shaped her energetic and outgoing personality. She continued her education at the University of Connecticut (UCONN) and maintained an active connection with her alma mater throughout her life.
In 1959, Joni married her high school sweetheart and began her career as a teacher in Waco, Texas. As an Air Force officer’s wife, she moved to Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 1961, where their son, Jeffrey Charles Bogert, was born. Their family grew with the births of a daughter, Cynthia Anne Bogert, in 1962, and a second son, Steven George Bogert, in 1964. Subsequent assignments took her young family to Okinawa during the Vietnam War, where Joni held the home front while her ex-husband served.
Following the war, the family relocated to Wichita, Kansas, then Richmond, Virginia, and finally settled in Apple Valley, CA. Despite the challenges of raising three young children, Joni never missed an opportunity to engage with the arts, attending dance performances, art exhibitions, and local plays. She shared her passion for fine arts, literature, and cultural events with her children, friends, and community.
After her divorce in 1982, Joni found true love again with Robert Egbert. They discovered the seaside town of Ventura and made it their forever home. Their many decades together were marked by travel, laughter, and adventure. A seasoned educator, Joni earned multiple Master’s degrees in Reading and Literature and enjoyed a fulfilling teaching career spanning over two decades, with her final years spent at Oxnard Senior High, where she was a beloved mentor.
In retirement, Joni and Robert enjoyed a serene, outdoorsy life as part-time residents in a mountain community near Tahoe before returning to Ventura to reside full-time. They were active in local political, cultural, and philanthropic endeavors, and Joni was a familiar face in the social scene, often found dancing with her signature sparkle.
Above all, Joni was a deeply devoted wife and mother. She is survived by her soulmate and husband of 39 years, Robert Egbert; her children, Jeffrey (Tamara) Bogert, Cynthia (Todd) Osborn, and Steven (Tracey) Bogert; and four cherished grandchildren, Steven George Bogert, Jr., Olivia Bogert, Amelia Bogert, and Luke Osborn. She is also survived by her younger brother, Robert Miller, and preceded in death by her beloved parents, Frieda and Charles Miller.
Arrangements are under the direction of the BOYKO & REARDON TELEGRAPH ROAD MORTUARY & CREMATION, Ventura.