Our History

The oldest, continuous family business in Warsaw, OH is the Fischer Funeral Home. It was started on February 11, 1937 by the late Franklin J. Fischer. Franklin first became involved in the funeral business with E.R. Urey on November 4, 1929. He would later purchase the business from Urey to start his own. 

The first business location was in a large white building on the southeast corner of Main and Bridge Streets in Warsaw. On August 22, 1939, Franklin started the process of tearing down and moving the home of Mr. and Mrs. Theopolus VanKennel in Monroe Township (pictured), to Warsaw where it is now the current location of the Funeral Home. All of the pieces were marked individually and the entire home was reconstructed piece-by-piece. At the height of reconstruction, there were 23 men working on the project at 35 cents to 50 cents an hour. 

Franklin and Lucille Fischer, and their children Patty Jo, Don, and Lynn, moved into the rebuilt home on December 30, 1939. The business moved into the new location in August of 1940. Many additions and improvements have been made to the facility over the years, but the original home still remains.

In 1973, Lynn and his wife Patricia Fischer purchased the business from Franklin, and gained controlling interest in 1979. Lynn's two sons, Gary and Nicholas both became licensed Funeral Directors. Together they opened a new location in Danville, OH in 1979 after purchasing the home of Harold and Jean Holt and remodeling it. After Lynn's untimely death in 1985, Patricia became the sole owner of both firms and the business as a whole. 

Gary Fischer's two oldest sons, Corey and Jesse both became licensed Funeral Directors, making four generations of the Fischer family to have served with the business.

Franklin J. Fischer founded the Fischer Funeral Home in Warsaw, OH in 1937. 

Franklin Fischer was born March 30, 1911 in Jefferson Township in Coshocton County to Nicholas Q. and Bertha (Bower) Fischer. He was a resident of the Village of Warsaw for 84 years. He retired from funeral directing in 1989, having been in business with his late uncle E.R. Urey from Nov. 9, 1929 to Feb. 11, 1937. It was then that he established the Fischer Funeral Home in Warsaw. He completely sold the business to his late son, Lynn R. Fischer, in 1979. 

He was a member of the Warsaw United Methodist Church for 71 years. He served as a trustee for Valley View Cemetery for 50 years. He was a member of the Warsaw Masonic Lodge #255 F & AM for 67 years. He was a former member of the Ohio Eastern Star #409 for 57 years. He was the last surviving charter member of the Warsaw Lions Club. He was a member of the Walhonding Valley Grange #1751. A 1929 graduate of Warsaw High School, a former Warsaw Village Councilman, a charter member of the Warsaw Emergency Squad, and instrumental in forming the Volunteer Emergency Squad. A charter member of the Warsaw Business Association, and a charter member of the River View Community Park Board. During the 1930’s and 1940’s, he was a member of the five-man Fire Department that pulled a chemical cart to fires with his 1929 Chevrolet truck.

Franklin Fischer passed away on February 18, 2000. His dedication to the Warsaw community lives on not just through the three subsequent generations at the Fischer Funeral Home, but also through the many organizations that he helped found and maintain.