Gasch’s Funeral Home was founded by Ernst Franz Bernhard (Francis) Gasch. Francis was born in Doeblen, Saxony, Germany on November 26, 1830. Francis’s father was a schoolteacher, fluent in several languages. Francis studied under his father until he was fourteen years old. Francis then moved to Frankenberg where he served for three years as an apprentice to a cabinetmaker.
Francis yearned for more. In July of 1850, Francis left Germany and came to the United States. When Francis arrived in Baltimore he had no knowledge of the English language and only fifty cents in his pocket. Francis immediately left Baltimore for Washington D.C., where he was able to find a position as a cabinetmaker. Francis worked for a gentleman named Charles Krumer. Francis’s salary was of $3.00 per month. On April 17, 1854, Francis married Katherine Sophia Schron. On October 1, 1855 they moved to a house on Baltimore Avenue in Bladensburg, Maryland. A year later they purchased a home next to the George Washington House, later renamed the Indian Queen Tavern.
The funeral business began in 1858. Traditionally cabinetmakers constructed coffins when necessary. Francis had done this for many years for the people in the Bladensburg and Hyattsville areas. Soon people were asking Francis to tend to all the funeral details. Francis began his business as “Francis Gasch-Undertaker”. This business would eventually become “Gasch’s Funeral Home, P.A.” While Francis was building his business, he was also building his family. Francis and Sophia had three sons, Edward, Ernest and Frank, and one daughter, Amelia. Edward and Ernest followed in their father’s footsteps and became Morticians, attending mortuary school in Massachusetts.
Around 1895 Francis and Sophia moved their family and the business across the street. They both lived in this home for the remainder of their lives. Sophia died on May 9, 1910, Francis on May 7, 1914. In 1902, the funeral home opened its current location which was then also Ernest’s home. The funeral home had one viewing room at the time.
Ernest died in 1938. After Ernest’s death, Ernest’s brother, Edward, and Ernest’s son William F. “Bill” and Bill’s wife, Ruth took over primary operation of the funeral home. In 1954, two years before Edward’s death, he retired and sold his share of the funeral home to Bill. Ruth and Bill’s only child, William Ernest, became a partner in 1962 and worked with his wife Constance.
In 1979 William F. retired and left William E. and Constance to run the funeral home. William E. retired in 1984. William F. “Bill” Gasch died on November 3, 1999 at the age 96.
Today, Constance Gasch and the fifth generation of Gasch’s- Claudette Gasch Lanning, operate the funeral home.
Gasch’s Funeral Home was founded by Ernst Franz Bernhard (Francis) Gasch. Francis was born in Doeblen, Saxony, Germany on November 26, 1830. Francis’s father was a schoolteacher, fluent in several languages. Francis studied under his father until he was fourteen years old. Francis then moved to Frankenberg where he served for three years as an apprentice to a cabinetmaker.
Francis yearned for more. In July of 1850, Francis left Germany and came to the United States. When Francis arrived in Baltimore he had no knowledge of the English language and only fifty cents in his pocket. Francis immediately left Baltimore for Washington D.C., where he was able to find a position as a cabinetmaker. Francis worked for a gentleman named Charles Krumer. Francis’s salary was of $3.00 per month. 
The funeral business began in 1858. Traditionally cabinetmakers constructed coffins when necessary. Francis had done this for many years for the people in the Bladensburg and Hyattsville areas. Soon people were asking Francis to tend to all the funeral details. Francis began his business as “Francis Gasch-Undertaker”. This business would eventually become “Gasch’s Funeral Home, P.A.” 
Around 1895 Francis and Sophia moved their family and the business across the street. They both lived in this home for the remainder of their lives. Sophia died on May 9, 1910, Francis on May 7, 1914.
Ernest died in 1938. After Ernest’s death, Ernest’s brother, Edward, and Ernest’s son William F. “Bill” and Bill’s wife, Ruth took over primary operation of the funeral home. In 1954, two years before Edward’s death, he retired and sold his share of the funeral home to Bill. 
In 1979 William F. retired and left William E. and Constance to run the funeral home. William E. retired in 1984. William F. “Bill” Gasch died on November 3, 1999 at the age 96.