Robert Francis Goeke

On November 21, 2022, family, friends, and business associates lost a loving husband, step-father, brother, uncle, loyal friend and excellent supplier. Robert Francis Goeke passed away at the age of 74 from complications of lung cancer.

Born in Trenton, New Jersey to parents Mildred and Francis Goeke, he graduated from Notre Dame High School in Lawrence, New Jersey where he was a High School All-American basketball player. He earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Catholic University, Washington, DC. where he played Division 1 basketball.

In 1974 he drove his chrome yellow Opel GT cross country to start his career in water purification, which he enjoyed for the next 48 years. His career started with Aqua Media in Mountain View, CA and, in the mid 80’s, he founded Gokey Industrial Sales. He was a customer service driven sales engineer, with a loyal customer base and excellent reputation. Robert enjoyed his work, customers, colleagues, and suppliers.

When he wasn't selling water purification systems to industry, he was on the golf course working at his game and sharing a cart with his wife Fe. Thank goodness, Fe convinced Robert that traveling around the globe with her was a better option than sitting at home and eating out at the same restaurants, and he loved it. He was an avid fan of the New York Yankees, the New York Giants, University of Notre Dame football, and college basketball. He was a parishioner of St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Irvine, and lived his life by his terms until the end.

Robert is survived by his wife Fe (“Baby Doll”); stepson - CJ Wunsch; siblings - Mildred Winfield (Tom), Carolyn Goeke, Mary Anne Mahin, Elizabeth Goeke (Jay Billie), Gerard Goeke (Patricia), Eleanor Buchler, Tom Goeke (Lucy) and his many nieces and nephews.

Funeral mass will be held at 10am on December 6, 2022, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 5101 Alton Parkway, Irvine.

Immediately following the funeral mass, friends and family are invited to walk next door to Conlon Hall for Robert’s Celebration of Life and luncheon from 11am - 2pm. At this time, we invite you to share a story about Robert.

A private burial will take place at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to be made in memory of Robert Goeke to The Catholic University Men’s Basketball Program https://advance.catholic.edu/giving/to/athletics, Villages in Partnership https://villagesinpartnership.org/, Beginning Experience https://beginningexperience.org/team/orange-county/.