Harry Gilbert "Gil" Banta Jr.

"One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" Proverbs 18:24. Harry "Gil" Gilbert Banta, Jr. was born on April 15, 1963, and left this earth on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the age of 62. Gil was a Deputy Sheriff and dispatcher for Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office for more than 30 years who faithfully served the residents of Iberville Parish with integrity, dedication and honor. He was a resident and native of Plaquemine, LA. Visitation will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Plaquemine on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, from 9am until Mass of Christian Burial at 12pm, celebrated by Father Martin Lawrence. Entombment will follow at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Brusly. Gil is survived by his sisters, Roxanna Brackin and husband Rhett, Gina Landry and husband Joey, and Laurie Peltier and husband Larry; nieces and nephews, MSgt Ryan Peltier and wife Jyza, Jennifer Landry and husband Dustin, and Landa Aillet and husband Spencer; great nieces and nephews, Mark and Nick Peltier, Calise, Cinclare and Kennan Landry, Vivienne and Bennett Aillet; former wife, Connie Rodriguez Winston; stepdaughters, Janae Jones and Brooke Verret; step grandchildren, Ethan Jones, Elyse, Ensley and Myles Verret; honorary brother and best friend, Frank Scalise; and godchild, Megan Richard. Preceded in death by his parents, Harry, Sr. and Vivian Budd Banta; and godchild, Josh Landry. Pallbearers will be Joey Landry, Larry Peltier, MSgt Ryan Peltier, Frank, Jared and Anthony Scalise, Troy Joffrion, and Jeff Hudson. Special thanks to Hosea Anderson, Sheriff Brett Stassi, Monty Migliacio and the entire Iberville Parish Sheriff's Department. Your thoughtfulness and love have been a great comfort to our family. Gil was a man of great integrity and will be remembered for his great conversation, loyalty, devotion, drive, comical humor and quick sarcastic whit. In 1984 at the age of 21, Gil was in a near fatal crash which left him wheelchair dependent where he was faced with many obstacles, but giving up was not one of them. One of his favorite quotes "some days are better than others, but every day is better than none" is how he perceived life. He was very determined not to let his accident hinder him in any way. In 1986 Gil started his career in public service with the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office and spent most of his career being a public servant. He was a law enforcement officer with Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office where he held many positions which included communications deputy and the law enforcement liaison for the parish Emergency Operations Center. Gil also worked for Brusly Police Department where he was a school resource officer and juvenile officer, and for a brief time he worked for Plaquemine Police Department and West Baton Rouge Homeland Security Office of Emergency Preparedness. Throughout this career he attended many classes and received several certifications in emergency preparedness, awareness, response and recovery. Gil was also an elected Justice of the Peace for 18 years in Iberville Parish and later in West Baton Rouge Parish. He rarely complained, was always eager to help others when he was physically able and will always be remembered as a giving person. Whether it was volunteering to help at the St. Jude’s car shows, cook for benefits or taking the time to speak to thousands of high school and college students all over the state sharing his testimony about the consequences of drinking and driving, which he was living proof of. Gil was an avid outdoorsman and a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation's Wheelin' Sportsman who specializes in making the outdoors accessible for those with limited mobility. For many years he traveled throughout the South competing in wheelchair tennis and basketball where he received many awards for his athleticism. Gil will also be remembered for his excellent performances on the pool tables and as he called it "useful but trivial knowledge."