ASSMAN, Herbert John (Herb)

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August 2, 1937 – November 21, 2024

Goodbyes are not forever,
Goodbyes are not the end,
it simply means we will miss you,
until we meet again.

Herb Assman passed away peacefully in the early hours of November 21, 2024, at the age of 87. His family is deeply saddened at having to say goodbye.

He was born on August 2, 1937,  in Prince George, BC, a city he was proud to call home and even in his later years felt a strong connection to. Born to John Assman Sr. and Kate (Blackburn), he was the eldest of three children, having two sisters, Mary Jane and Donna.  At the time the Assman family was extensive in the area, and he often spoke of his many cousins that he felt close to and cherished his time with at the Assman Farm, a location close to Cranbrook Hill and Miworth. Not long after graduation, he met the love of his life, his French-Canadian prairie girl, who had arrived from Saskatchewan to visit her sister (Alice Bourassa), and married “his Juliette” in June of 1960. Together they raised a beautiful family and created a life that they were both proud of and felt blessed. He often said, “if you don’t have family, you have nuthin!”

Herb was known as a mover and shaker at a young age, working hard, playing hard, and enjoying life to the fullest. He belonged to many community groups that helped build and shape Prince George. As a proud member of the downtown Rotary Club, founding member of the Prince George Golf and Curling Club, Masonic Lodge Nechako #86, Prince George Shriners, and a provincial director for BCAA, and even the illustrious “coffee gang”, he along with so many others at the time were a big part of Prince George.

Herb was a pioneering force in Western Canada’s transportation industry and the second-generation leader of what now has become the Landtran Group of Companies. He learned the transportation business from his father, John Sr., before taking the helm of the family enterprise in 1971. Under his leadership, the company evolved from a modest trucking operation into a large regional warehousing and distribution network, including the development of three warehouses that remain on 1st Avenue in Prince George.

Together with Elie Musa, Herb founded Northern Interior Fastfrate Ltd., offering freight service throughout Northern British Columbia with hubs in Edmonton and Vancouver. His entrepreneurial vision led to the acquisition of Byers Transport in 1990 and the formation of Landtran Systems Inc. in Edmonton.

Known for his unwavering persistence and resilience in challenging times, Herb remained dedicated to the business he built. Even in his later years, he was a familiar figure in the office, distinguished by his trademark suspenders, taking pride in the legacy he created at Landtran.

Whether it was fishing, hunting, race horses, beekeeping or any of the numerous adventures he pursued, he did things his way, with persistence and support from Julie – they were an incredible team!! He was bold, courageous, and larger than life in many ways. Those who knew him, knew his big personality, and as his family, we knew his extremely generous, loving, and sometimes softer side. For many years West Lake was home for the summers and in 1979 he and Julie built their dream home and spent their last years in Prince George creating many memories both on shore with the co-founding of the West Lake Firehall, and countless get-togethers of family and friends, and on water with the barge, the S. S. Hermes. In 2010 he found comfort in retiring with Julie to the sunny skies of Kelowna, BC.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years Julie, daughters Beverly (Michael) Noonan and Judy Neiser (Richard George), and his son John (Maureen) Assman; grandchildren Michael (Angie) Neiser, Steven Neiser, Jennifer Neiser; Kenedy (Melissa) Assman, Bowen Assman and Benett Assman; his great-grandchildren, Hudson, Weston, Gracen, and Shea. He is also survived by his sister, Donna (Terry) McBurney. He was pre-deceased by his parents John and Kate Assman, his sister Mary Jane Assman, son-in-law Cal Neiser, and his grandson Sean Noonan.

At this time the family has chosen to honour his memory privately, with a memorial service to be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Assman Family Fund held with the Prince George Community Foundation www.pgcf.ca or through the Assman Family Fund held at the Central Okanagan Community Foundation www.centralokanaganfoundation.org

The family wishes to thank the staff at The Vineyards, especially Janelle and the 3rd-floor nursing and care staff, for their amazing comfort and friendship for Herb, as well as the residents and staff of Sandalwood Retirement Living.

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
Abraham Lincoln

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