Joan B. Arnheiter

Joan Frances (Biemer) Arnheiter, formerly of Butler and Kinnelon, died on December 21, 2025. She has lived at Cedar Crest since 2001. She was 100 years old, just shy of 101. 

Joan was the fourth of five children born to George N. and Florence Biemer in Butler, NJ, on January 27, 1925. She graduated from St. Anthony’s School in 1938 and Butler High School in 1942, and was a devoted, active member of St. Anthony’s Church. She belonged to the Third Order of St. Francis. Upon her marriage to Charles Arnheiter in 1967, she joined Our Lady of the Magnificat Parish in Kinnelon, where they resided.

At a time when working women were just getting a foot in the door, Joan began a stellar 38-year career with the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company (affectionately called “Ma Bell”) right out of high school. Joan began as a switchboard operator in the Butler manual office on Manning Ave. With her promotions, she acquired many titles through the years, such as: Switchboard Instructor; Assistant Chief Operator; Traffic Service Advisor; appointed the Chief Operator of the New Jersey Bell Telephone Co., Pompton Lakes Toll & Directory Assistance; Assistant Manager Business Technical Operator for Paterson-Passaic Ridgewood Council; Manager of Business Services.

Joan was a life member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.

As a faithful parishioner at OLM, Joan helped with food and toy drives, the counting team, events at the church, and generous financial support.

Her other interests included hosting “family & friends” occasions with Charlie, travel and sports, with special fondness reserved for the Mets. Their ravels took them to Hawaii, California, Cape Cod, Washington, DC, Alaska, several western national parklands, the Holy Land, and throughout Europe on cruises and land tours. After retirement in 1980, Joan & Charlie joined the other “Snowbirds” in the family, spending many wonderful winters in Florida.

Joan was among the very first residents to move into Cedar Crest (2001), and as such, was considered one of their “Pioneers.” At the time, she was selected to be the floor monitor for her section of Timber Ridge. Joan enthusiastically took advantage of the travel opportunities offered by Cedar Crest in later years, as well, and became active in their glee club with friends old and new.

Her nieces and nephews fondly remember Joan’s sense of fun, taking them to the circus, playing miniature golf, and stopping for milk shakes at Curly’s. Memories include family Thanksgivings and Christmas Eves that Joan & Charlie hosted through the years, particularly the special elebration when her mother, Florence Biemer, turned 90. Family came from all over the country for the occasion.

Joan’s love for St. Anthony’s and the town where she grew up led to her making two videos highlighting local history. These may be viewed on YouTube:

- Rubber Mill Fire, made for the Butler Public Library in 2021, features Joan’s first-person account recalling the huge industrial fire on Main Street in 1957:ttps://youtu.be/03t6840D640

- Story Time with Ella Remembering St Anthony’s School Days, also filmed in 2021,concentrates on Joan’s warm memories of her school days:https://youtube.com/watch?v=TEAkFRliWFA

Joan was predeceased by her beloved husband Charles in 1984; her sisters M. Margaret Maggio of Butler, NJ; Helen Kaiser of Horicon, Wisconsin, and Palm Harbor, FL; brother George Biemer of Butler and Pompton Plains, NJ; and brother Dr. James Biemer of Gainesville and Tampa, FL. She is survived by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements are through The Morrison Etheridge Funeral Home, 86 Bartholdi Ave., Butler, NJ 07405.

- Visitation on Monday, January 5, 2026 from 4:00pm – 7:00pm

- Funeral Mass on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 10:00am, Our Lady of the Magnificat Church, Miller Road, Kinnelon, NJ 07405. Followed by an entombment at Our Lady of Magnificat Cemetery, Miller Road, Kinnelon, NJ 07405.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the hospice:

Grace Healthcare Services, Raritan Plaza III,105 Fieldcrest Ave., Suite 402, Edison, NJ 08837-3628

(Payment only as checks or money orders.)