Martin Schultz, Jr.

“Punkin” Martin Schultz, Jr., age 72, passed away on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport.
Punkin was born on January 7, 1949, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to his late parents, Eva Merle and Martin Schultz, Sr.  The family moved to the MS Gulf Coast in 1958 where he became a lifelong resident.  He graduated from Gulfport High School in 1967 and attended Junior College at Perkinston.  His lifelong love of music was shared around this time when he was the drummer for the band, Raspberry Shoelaces, that he and his friends started and played several local gigs.
He and Diane, his wife of 50 ½ years, were married on July 10, 1970.  In 1970, Punkin began working as a delivery driver for the Coca Cola plant in Gulfport.  These were his golfing years, with many miles walked on local courses with friends and many tournaments watched on TV at home with family.  He was at the Coke plant until February 21, 1977, when he began his career as a UPS delivery driver.  He was well known and loved by the customers on his UPS route and many great stories and connections evolved from his years there.  Many stories also came from his countless days spent on Wolf River with friends and family.  He loved tubing, canoeing, and driving his 4-wheel drive Toyota across the river.  He and the family had many camping adventures on the Wolf River before it became mostly privately owned.  Punkin retired from UPS after 27 years of many miles traveled in the big brown truck.  He enjoyed relaxing at home with family pets while listening to his favorite Golden Oldies from the 50’s and 60’s, especially Elvis Presley.  He enjoyed watching Steven Seagal movies, concert footages, especially the Rolling Stones, and NFL football.
Punkin was preceded in death by his parents, Eva Merle and Martin Schultz, Sr.; and his brother, Rickey Schultz, Sr.
He is survived by his wife of 50 ½ years, Diane Schultz; two daughters, Kristie Laiche (Darrell) and Katie Capers, all of Gulfport; his son, “Rocky” Martin Schultz, III (Adrienne) of Saucier; his sister, Patricia Aldridge (Wilson) of Houston, TX; and his grandchildren, Lauren Laiche, Parrish Laiche, Tristan Schultz, Skylar Schultz, and Stella Schultz.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Humane Society of South MS, 2615 25th Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39501.
The memorial service will be held from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM, Saturday, March 6, 2021, at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Gulfport, with a visitation from 1:00 PM until the service.