Joel Luke Belanger

New Iberia – A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30AM on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Sacred Heart Church in New Iberia, with Father Keith Landry officiating.

Visitation will take place on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 9:30AM at Sacred Heart Church and will continue until the time of service. A recitation of the rosary by the Men's Rosary Group will take place at 10:00AM. Interment will be at Holy Family Cemetery in New Iberia.

Joel Luke Belanger, famed trumpet player of this area, passed away on August 24, 2026. His death marked the end of a charmed life of serving God, family, and friends.

Joel was born in Bourq, La., to Herbert and Selina Labit Belanger. He was the youngest child of three children, Ronald and Gerald, the older brothers.

Joel’s life was always centered around music. During his youngest years, he found great pleasure in making childlike instruments in his dad’s workshop. By age nine, he’d bought a mail order harmonica and, with two other friends, was known to entertain at school programs.

Upon entering Terrebonne High School, Joel joined the band, playing his coronet, which his parents purchased at Werlein’s in New Orleans. In his second year of band membership, he achieved first chair status. At the age of 15, his first professional job was as a stand-in for a local wedding. This was the beginning of his lifelong second profession.

Joel was honored to be a member of the State’s Honor Band as a senior. Additionally, Joel’s trumpet talents won him a complete band scholarship to LSU. However, due to an accident crushing his foot, he had to decline the much-acclaimed honor. McNeese quickly offered their band scholarship, promising that he would have no marching required during his freshman year due to his whole leg being in a cast.

During Joel’s years at McNeese, he was active in their ROTC program. Upon graduation in 1957, he attended Officer’s Candidate School, acquiring the rank of second lieutenant. Through his fourteen years in the reserves, he rose to the rank of captain.

After graduation from McNeese, Joel began his life journey as a high school band director in Rapides Parish. After a year there, he moved to Delcambre, where he became their one and only “Music Man!” In Delcambre, he found great comfort in the people and the environment. They loved Joel and he loved them always! Joel brought many band honors to the Delcambre band – so many firsts in Delcambre High School Band’s history.

Joel married Suzanne Cheramie and they were blessed with three children, Michelle, Renee, and Joel II. During these busy years, he also maintained his professional trumpet playing as a second job, playing with many local bands at night and on weekends. So many beautiful memories – too many to recount!

There were transitions in Joel’s life and “mountains” to climb. He married Genny B. Verret in 1982. By this time, he had retired from band directing. He became director of Vermillion Arc. Genny and Joel had 17 blessed years together, as they were always involved with their children and the ever-mounting grandchildren. Also, during these memorable years he maintained his second job and second love, music entertainment. One of his greatest honors at that time was being a charter member of The Iberians, a local orchestra. Joel also regularly played with other local groups. Sadness once again came into Joel’s life when his beloved Genny passed away in October of 1997. As was usual for Joel, he gathered up strength and continued his life with Vermilion Arc and music.

On October 16, 1999, friends Frances and Richard Falgout, introduced Joel to Suzanne Broussard. Theirs was a rapidly budding relationship, and they were married on March 5, 2000. This was the beginning of a quite different lifestyle, as Joel embraced retirement from Arc, focusing more on his second profession, music entertainment. Soon Joel met Gene Romero, who introduced him to “Swamp Pop.” This transition opened many new doors for his career. He played with numerous bands making many new friends in this music genre.

Time always allowed Joel and Suzanne to seek out new adventures. They had many passions: RV’ing, cruising, road trips for weeks at a time, gardening, and enjoying the simpler things of life together. Retirement could not have been better for them, a true blessing. Their 26 years of marriage was a joy.

Joel is survived by one brother, Gerald Belanger; three children, Michelle Fontenot (Troy), Renee Thompson (Dr. Scott E.) and Joel II; stepchildren, Belinda Boudreaux (Kirk), Artie Verret (Sherry), Liz Fielding (Dwayne) and Michael Thomson (Katie); and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Serving as pallbearers will be Troy Fontenot, Cody Fontenot, Justin Fontenot, Kirk Boudreaux, Artie Verret, and Joshua Thompson.

Serving as an honorary pallbearer will be Micheal Thomson.

Frioux Funeral Home of New Iberia, 1101 Trotter Street, 337-369-6336, will be handling the services.