Christopher "Chris" Michael Goerke

Christopher Michael Goerke passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of August 24, 2025. Chris was born on May 21, 1958 in Detroit, Michigan to Herbert Arthur and Jacqueline (Perkins) Goerke.

He grew up in Saline, Michigan and graduated from Saline High School in 1976. He married his high school sweetheart, Tammy Carris, as soon as he turned 18. Together, they campaigned for environmental justice and human rights causes, and political activism remained core to Chris’ values throughout his lifetime. Although their union did not last, Chris and Tammy remained lifelong family.

Chris worked for Chrysler for a number of years until a back injury prompted a change in his daytime career. He attended Control Data Institute, and in 1981 began working in the tech industry.

Chris was a skilled musician. He played the trumpet in the high school band and taught himself to play bass as an adult. He was a fixture in the Ann Arbor music scene, playing in several bands over the years. He and some of his closest friends played together in a few incarnations of The Jim Tate Band over the span of three decades. Drivin’ Sideways, The Conqueroots, Shoot The Messenger, and The Medicine Men were also well-known local bands that Chris played with for many years. He was honored to share the stage with many talented friends and artists over the course of more than 40 years in music.

He married his second wife, Vinje Shayne, in 1986, and in July of that year he missed his first gig ever for the birth of his daughter, Anja Elaine. Her sister, Hilary Christine, followed in October of 1988, fortunately not during happy hour. Although divorced, he and Vinje eventually built a solid friendship.

Chris married Vicki Nussbaum Kepp in 1998. Their son, Nicholas James, was born in October of 1999. Chris and Vicki divorced in 2018 after a lengthy separation.

He is survived by his children, Anja Goerke (Dan Hubner), Hilary Goerke, and Nicholas Goerke, and his grandson Sterling Bright. He also leaves behind sister Kathy Lenahan and her children Colleen and Brendan, step-siblings Patrick LeClaire and Kelly (LeClaire) Kangas, half-brother Gary Goerke, aunt Barbara Irelan, and many, many friends.

Chris lived to make music. He learned songs by ear, and his repertoire was vast. Even after he was largely incapacitated by a stroke in December of 2021, he always kept the rhythm going with his fingers or a tool.

His stage nickname was “Mr.Excitement”. He was not. He was a steady and reliable musician, with a steady and visibly relied-upon hat. He was funny and dumbly punny, a loving and supportive father, and he really loved cats, cars, comics, a corner slice of pizza, a stiff drink, and his people, especially his grandson. His memory will be a blessing to those who knew and loved him. A go-to phrase for him was “well, what can ya do?”. The answer- hear the music, make the music, feel it and be it.

A Celebration of Life for Chris will be held on Friday, August 29, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM at Muehlig Funeral Chapel, 403 S 4th Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104.