Michael R. Goyke

Michael R. Goyke, 63, of Oshkosh, passed away peacefully on November 24, 2025, with his wife and daughter by his side, after a short, but courageous battle with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) with the subtype Primary Progressive Aphasia. Born August 13,1962, Mike lived a life filled with love and laughter, and he cherished his family, friends and the outdoors deeply.

As an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, Mike’s happiest moments were spent hunting and fishing. He loved hunting and fishing with his wife Karla, his family, friends, and Cider Bleu, his German Shorthaired Pointer. Cider Bleu preceded him in death on October 27th 2024 at the age of 17. Michael had the tradition of Pheasant hunting on opening day with his daughter Gretchen and granddaughter Samantha. He also started the tradition of duck hunting with his grandson Walker (his faithful little partner from the time Walker was five) and his son-in-law Dusty. Michael also enjoyed bowhunting and gun hunting, he sat with his daughter every year during gun hunting. He participated in many fishing tournaments alongside his wife and best friend of 24 years. Together they taught hunter safety classes for 12 years, passing on their passion and respect for nature to generations of young people. He loved teaching his grandson, Logan, how to tie a hook and put a worm on.

For 45 years Mike was a familiar and beloved figure at Ascension Mercy Hospital (formerly Mercy Medical Center) working as a Maintenance Mechanic where his kindness touched countless lives. He was known for brushing snow from cars during blizzards in the parking lot, a gesture that once earned him the title “Snow Angel” in a letter published in the local newspaper, offering bus money to someone in need, mentoring Project Search students, sneaking treats to his daughters at work, or simply lending a hand. Mike made everyone feel cared for at all times, and this extended outside of his working hours.

At Mercy, he met his lifelong best friend Scott Miller and shared decades of adventures together: fishing tournaments, .38 Special concerts, truck pulls, and cold beers. Michael and Scott found property to lease in Neshkoro, WI for deer and turkey hunting. It was then that an unbreakable bond was formed with the Naparalla and Good Families (Chuck Good and his wife Jeanne (Naparalla) Good) and Dorothy Naparalla. Over the years Mike, Scott, and Chuck shared many amazing memories together. Michael and Chuck made Sturgeon spearing on Lake Winnebago an annual tradition that produced many legendary stories, including Chuck’s perfect skull shot and Mike’s 100-pounder, along with laughter that echoed across the ice.

Mike is survived by his devoted wife, Karla Goyke; children Gretchen (Dusty) Goyke-Emerson, Barbara (Nick) Feutz, and Alan Byczynski; cherished grandchildren Samantha, Walker, and Logan Feutz; great-granddaughter Charlotte Ruby; sister Victoria (Jerry) Mueller; brother Tom (Jean) Goyke; mother-in-law Barbara Norman (Granny); Former wife, Barbara Goyke; and many dear nieces, nephews, and friends who became family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Ann and Thomas Goyke; brother Mark Goyke; and his faithful Furbabies, Cider Bleu, Charlie, Mercury, Lady, Jade, Laizer and Red Dog.

Despite living a short life, Michael lived life to the absolute fullest. In one final act of generosity, Mike donated his brain to the Brain Support Network in hopes of helping researchers find a cure for the cruel disease that took him far too soon. To learn more or support the search for a cure, please visit www.theaftd.org. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration at https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/6847059

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the extraordinary staff at Parkview Health Center, especially Christa, Carlyn, Sue, Kaylie, Alycia, Stephanie, and Elizabeth, for their compassionate care that wrapped Michael and his family in love during his final days.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Jerry’s Bar, 1210 Ceape Avenue in Oshkosh on Saturday, December 6th at 1pm. Come prepared to share stories, raise a glass, and laugh, just as Mike wanted.

Mike’s love for his family, his dogs, and the outdoors will live forever in every deer rut, turkey gobble, sunrise over a duck marsh, every rooster flushing through the grass, and every tug on the end of a fishing line. Keep your loved ones close and hug them tight. Rest easy, hunter we will miss you and always love you!