Bert Guiberteau

Bert Guiberteau, Sr. a much loved and caring husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and friend to so many in the Teche area passed away on Thursday, August 10 in Lafayette, Louisiana at the age 90. Bert is survived by his wife of 64 years, Ina Garcia Guiberteau, sons; Bert, Jr. and wife Giselle of Baton Rouge and their children, Erika and Monika; Gerald and wife Pam of New Iberia and children Chancey, Jude and wife Erica, Natalie and husband Brock Kidder, and Haley; Neal and wife Deanna of New Iberia and children Chance, Adam, Mia, Taylem Breaux, and Mandy Christian; great-grandchildren, John-Luke Kidder, Lilah Kidder, Wyatt Kidder, Charity Guiberteau, and Tallon Guiberteau. Bert was born on August 12, 1927 in Jeanerette, Louisiana to parents Felix and Nora Trimble Guiberteau. Bert grew up in Jeanerette with a sister, Dorothy Dot Guiberteau Bodin and brother Frank. He later began his lifelong passion for the sugar industry when working with his father at many Teche area sugar mills during the 1940s. Bert served time in the US Navy during WWII and was stationed in San Diego awaiting deployment to invade Japan when the atomic bomb ended the war. Bert eventually settled in New Iberia after marrying the love of his life, Ina Garcia. He worked for Shell Oil Company at Weeks Island for 33 years (1951-1984) before retiring at the age of 55. Bert served on the Iberia Parish School Board for thirteen years (1977-1990) serving as president for one year in 1986. Bert also served as a Boy Scout Leader at Nina Gates Elementary, in addition to being a founding member of the Evangeline Little League. Bert never retired from his lifes passions that started with his family, traveling and interest in history particularly the civil war, steam locomotives, family genealogy and history of the Teche area sugar factories. Bert and Ina traveled extensively throughout the United States including a trip to Memphis for the Elvis Fest for ten years to please his wife who is a big Elvis fan. Six months after a stroke in June of 2010, with no feeling in his right hand pressed on researching and writing historical books on Teche area sugar factories using an iMacs that his children bought for him. He started (research) after he retired and kept it up, said his wife Ina, He wanted to preserve the history for future generations. I had to put it in writing, Bert said. Im going to be ashes when I die, and thats all. Everybody wants to know of old times, what it was like. Bert is a member of the greatest generation and we can learn so much from them. The times Bert lived may be gone with the wind but our generation and future generations should never forget to remember and to honor. A funeral service will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia. Interment will be at a later date in Holy Family Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will be Friday from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia. A rosary, led by Erika Guiberteau, will be prayed at 7:00 pm Friday. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 8:00 am until 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family ask memorial contributions be made to either The National WWII Museum, 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 or Bayou Teche Museum, 131 E. Main Street, New Iberia, LA 70560. Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Belanger, Donald Belanger, Jude Guiberteau, Adam Guiberteau, Brock Kidder, and Donald Bodin. The family would like to thank his care providers at Lourdes Hospital and St.Joseph Hospice in Lafayette and especially care givers Joni Verret, Jessica Beaube and Sissy Chaisson. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd, New Iberia, LA 70560, 337.365.3331, is in charge of the arrangements.