Joey Martens Lenz, 32, of Conroe, Texas passed away Tuesday, February 1 at Fort Hood Army Base in Killeen, Texas unexpectedly from reasons unknown in his sleep.

Joey Martens Lenz was born November 16, 1989, in Baytown, Texas to his parents, Margie Martens (Lenz) Taylor and Ted Michael Lenz. Joey was the youngest of their three sons. His brothers are Timothy Scott Lenz of Washington married to Valerie Lenz, and their two daughters-Willa and Elle, and Cody Michael Lenz married to Angela Lenz of La Porte. Texas and their two children-Cooper and Lily.

Specialist Joey Lenz, Conroe, Texas (32) was serving in the United States Army at Fort Hood, Texas. He enlisted in the Army on September 18, 2017, completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina on December 4, 2017, and Advanced Individual Training as a 91D Generator Mechanic at Fort Lee, Virginia on March 7, 2018. He was deployed to the Republic of Korea October 2019 through February 2021 where he served as a Tactical Power Generator Specialist. As a generator mechanic he received many accolades including the National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

After re-enlisting in October 2020, he had a change of career paths and was preparing to leave the Army in the next month to live in Conroe and explore civilian options as a Generator Mechanic.

He was an enthusiastic, caring, and kind young man known for his deep passion of all animals especially cats and dogs. He always had a cat living with him in civilian life. While a soldier in the Army he was pursuing opportunities to volunteer at the local animal shelter. Joey was looking forward to having a pet when he came back home.

Joey had a new hobby using the “Insta-pot” to make macaroni and cheese in his barracks and exploring other easy to make recipes. He proudly shared his recipes with his mom through texts. His favorite music group was Blink 182. He went to every concert that came to Houston since he was twelve years old. He even had the Blink 182 tattoo embedded on his chest. His friends are encouraged to wear their favorite Blink 182 shirts to the service.

His humor was contagious, and he never met a stranger. He was known as the life of any gathering or “Lights Out Lenz.” His friends referred to him as the King of One-Liners and Giver of Nicknames.

He loved his family with his entire being and was devoted to his mom. He will always be her Mama’s Boy.

Joey died February 1, 2022, while sleeping in his barracks at Fort Hood. Several indicators contributed to his death including a toxic and hostile leadership, prescription drug interaction, depression, and anxiety. His heart was extremely enlarged due to the environment, mental stress, and the drugs. This was preventable and intervention could have saved his life.

Joey is survived by his immediate family-mother Margie Taylor and stepfather Jeff Taylor, his father Ted Lenz and wife Nina Lenz; his brothers Timothy Lenz with wife Valerie, daughters Willa and Elle; Cody Lenz and wife Angela Lenz with son Cooper Lenz and Lily Lenz, Stepsister, Jamie Lynn La Fuente of Sonora, California with husband Ian La Fuente, and children Lathan and Avery. He is also survived by numerous extended family members.

He is buried at Forest Park in The Woodlands 18000 Interstate 45 S. and visitors are encouraged to visit his gravesite. A coin left on a headstone lets the deceased soldier’s family know that somebody stopped by to pay their respect. A penny means you visited. A nickel means you and the deceased veteran trained at boot camp together. A dime means you and the deceased veteran served together in some capacity.

“Some people make your laugh a little louder, your smile a little brighter, and your life a little better. Joey was loved by soldiers, good friends, and family. He made our life better!”

Never Forgotten