Juan "Johnny" Antonio Martinez

Juan Antonio “Johnny” Martinez, 53, New Braunfels, Texas, passed away on Monday, May 12, 2025, at home. He was born on January 6, 1972, in Laredo, Texas, the son of Minerva (Peña) Koplin and the late Juan Manuel Martinez, Jr.

Johnny was a 1990 graduate of United High School in Laredo, Tx and attended Texas A&M University serving in the Company I-1, Corps of Cadets (Red Eye One) and MSU in Denver, Colorado.

"Johnny Boy", as he was fondly known, was a kind and loving son who loved his family dearly. He was an equally loving father, dedicating his life to his children through unconditional love and adventurous outdoors spirit. He took his family on countless fishing, skiing and tubing trips and years of road-trips and festivals. He also had a passion for music, which he passed on to his daughter. He would often bring his guitar to gatherings so that he could play.

Johnny was the fun-loving brother and uncle, coming back to Texas as soon as he could to be closer to family, settling his own in New Braunfels to be equally close to his sister, cousins and in-laws.

Johnny was a renaissance man with diverse interests including photography, hunting and fishing, aviation and the military, having served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He was undeniably the family story-teller with his steel-trap memory never letting the truth get in the way of a good story. Johnny put a smile on every face of every room he walked into and held court at every gathering having never met a stranger, putting everyone at ease then keeping them in stitches. He was the life of every party, and knowledgeable in any subject. He befriended people from all walks of life and he was there to lend a hand and a story to everyone who needed it. Even in his travels, he captivated people with his stories. Johnny had countless friends and will be missed by all who knew him, our world is a little less bright without him.

Johnny is preceded in death by his father, Juan Manuel Martinez, Jr., his grandparents, several aunts and uncles including his “Papa Juan”, “Mama Nela” and “The Tíos” who had a profound impact on his life. He is survived by his son Juan Diego, daughter Maya and the mother of his children, Stephanie Land; his mother, Minerva (Jerry) Koplin of Clarkston, Michigan; sisters: Valerie (Chris) Loft of Round Rock, Melisande Diane Guzman of Clarkston, Michigan and Kristina (Daniel) Gardner; nieces: Abriana and Marisa Loft, Iliana “Ellie” and G.G. Rose Marcus, and Cloe Gardner and nephews William Marcus and Levi Gardner.

A memorial service will take place at 3pm on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Zoeller Funeral Home 615 Landa St, New Braunfels, Texas, followed by a celebration of life immediately after the service until 6pm at Krause’s Café & Biergarten in the pavilion in New Braunfels, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity in Johnny’s name.