10/17/2026
93 years old. A lifetime on the water. And a legacy of love.
Last week, I came across a story in the October issue of Texas Co-op Power that touched my heart, and I had planned to share it today.
It was about Jerome “Pops” Kunz, a 93-year-old Texas shrimp boat captain who had been sh*****ng since he was 10 years old and was still working the nets twice a week.
But what especially touched me was the relationship he shared with his daughter-in-law, Nikki Johnson-Kunz, known as the Texas Shrimp Diva.
In 2018, Nikki began joining Pops on his shrimp boat because she was concerned about the injuries he was getting while working alone. What began as a daughter-in-law looking out for her father-in-law became a beautiful partnership.
And isn't that a wonderful picture of family?
Then this week, I learned the heartbreaking news that Pops had passed away at 93.
In her tribute, Nikki shared that he had spent time tending his garden that day, one of his two favorite places. The other was his shrimp boat.
She wrote about the love and encouragement he received from so many people and how grateful she was to have stood beside him on that boat.
There's something deeply meaningful about a life spent doing work you love, surrounded by people who love you.
And perhaps that's one of the beautiful lessons Pops leaves us about aging well. It's not simply about how long we live, but the relationships we nurture, the things that give our days meaning, and the love we leave behind.
Pops' story also shines a light on the hardworking families who continue to preserve our Texas sh*****ng heritage.
So here's to Pops, Nikki, Jason, and the families who carry on that tradition.
May Pops' family find comfort in the many lives he touched and the memories they'll always carry.
Read the original story:
https://texascooppower.com/an-old-salt-and-a-seafaring-diva/
Story: “An Old Salt and a Seafaring Diva” by Pam LeBlanc, Texas Co-op Power, October 2026.
Photography by Erich Schlegel.
