The clematis in your photo looks healthy. I can see that the flowers have been nibbled on by caterpillars, but overall the growth looks healthy. 

When you clematis have died in the past, have they suddenly wilted and then turned brown? 

Spring blooming clematis are prone to wilt. There isn't a cure. In my experience, replacing the soil does not eliminate the problem. It can be very frustrating if you love Clematis! 

Here is a good resource from the Missouri Botanical Garden on clematis wilt, including photos. 

It appears that there are a few courses of action:

1. you could wait until next year, and see if your clematis comes back from the roots. 

2. you can replace with a smaller flowering variety or a fall blooming variety

3. you can try a different vine altogether 

If you go with option 2, please make sure you do not purchase the invasive species Clematis terniflora. It is frequently sold as "fall blooming clematis" or "sweet autumn clematis." Although this clematis is not listed by the State of Michigan as invasive, I spent two years pulling it out of a property in Oakland County. It is reported as invasive in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. 

If you would like to go with option 3 and try something new, here are a few ideas:

Annual vines:

Spanish flag or firecracker vine. (Ipomoea lobata or Mina lobata). 

Black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata).

Moonflower (Ipomoea alba). 

Cup and saucer vine (Cobaea scandens). 

Perennial vines: 

Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris)

Native Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens). Other Wisteria species can be too aggressive and/or invasive. 

Native honeysuckle vine (Lonicera sempervirens). 

Yellow Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens). May not be hardy in Eaton County. Be sure to find your hardiness zone and protect the vine if you want to try this vine. 

Climbing roses (Rosa sp).