Herbert Gordon Tisher

We are sad to share the news that Herbert Gordon Tisher, died on November 6, 2024, after a 16 year long battle with PSP (progressive Supranuclear Palsy).  He passed away at his home in Langley, attended by his beloved wife of 50 years, LaVerne.

Herb was born on June 5, 1942, to Wenslav and Ella Tischer, near Onoway, Alberta.  His family moved to BC in 1955, and Herb taught secondary school in Vancouver, after earning his BA degree and Education Certificate at UBC. 

In 1973 Herb relocated to Liberia, West Africa, where he was Managing Principal of Liberia Assembly of God schools in the far interior for two years, before beginning the analysis of the Tchien Krahn language, developing a spelling and grammar system, producing reading primers for the Tchien Krahn people and ultimately translating the New Testament into that language.

As well, Herb served as Field Director for the Canadian Global Workers of the PAOC in Liberia, and taught courses at the Liberia Assemblies of God Bible College (in preparation for which, he earned an MA degree at the Assemblies of God Graduate School).  Forced to evacuate Liberia because of the revolution of 1989, Herb and his family relocated to Cote d’Ivoire to complete the NT translation.

Coming back to Canada in 1994, Herb taught ESL in that department at Trinity Western University.   In 2007, he and LaVerne relocated once again, this time to Qatar, where he developed a prayer ministry and volunteered to teach EFL to foreign workers while LaVerne taught at a Technical College. It was there that he first showed symptoms of PSP.  They returned to Langley, BC in 2013, to begin a new challenge: fighting the effects of this neurological condition.

Herb and LaVerne have three children, Gordon (Andrea), Kent, and Carolyn (Robert McCann).  Herb also leaves five grandchildren, four siblings, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. 

Herb wrote a book entitled “The Call of God Brings Joy” (amazon.ca), detailing his life and work in West Africa. That Title is a good description of Herb’s life and calling. The call of God was to remain with him all his life.