June 15, 1936 - Dec. 27, 2012

SHIPSHEWANA - Brig. Gen. William H. Reiff, 76, died in his home early Thursday morning, Dec. 27, 2012.

He was born June 15, 1936, in Bluffton to George Herman and Eileen (Schlaugenhauf) Reiff. He married Judith McFarren on June 25, 1953, in Bluffton. She died April 26, 1997. He married Sammi Chupp on Feb. 24, 2007. She survives.

Also surviving are a son, David L. (Kris) Reiff of Goshen; a daughter, Linda (Gary) Maust of Goshen; his stepmother, Betty Mitchell of Portland, Tenn.; three stepchildren, Sharon (Lyle) Shinn of Bristol, Roger (Laurie) Chupp of Goshen and Rick (Joyce) Chupp of Buckeye, Ariz; five grandsons, Dave (Jennifer) Reiff, Shane Maust, Brandon (Brooke) Maust, Brock (Lindsay) Maust and Dan (AnnDee) Reiff; four stepgrandchildren, Jennifer (Tim) Jankowski, Jamie Shinn, Jessica Chupp and Sgt. Randy Chupp; a brother, Richard (Barb) Reiff of LaGrange; and a sister, LuAnn (Tony) Garton of Bluffton.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sons, Max and George Reiff.

An area resident since 1970, he worked in the construction of homes, commercial buildings and bridges.

Mr. Reiff enlisted in the U.S. National Guard in 1954, and rose in rank from second lieutenant after Officer Candidate School (OCS) to brigadier general. He retired after serving 35 years of service in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserves. He served as battalion commander of the Fort Wayne National Guard, served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 and commanded the seven Midwest battalions of the 300th Military Police Command in Inkster, Mich.

He earned the Bronze Star and Army Commendation medal along with numerous other medals and decorations.

He was a member and exalted ruler of the Elks Club, and a member of American Legion Post 210 of Middlebury, VFW Post 985, where he was a past commander, Goshen DAV Chapter 15 and Concord Rotary Club.

Friends may call from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home. A 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, funeral service will be at the funeral home, with his brother-in-law, Tony Garton officiating.

Burial will follow in Elm Grove Cemetery, Bluffton.

Memorial contributions may be given to Center for Hospice Care or VFW Post 985.

SFC Steven Toth (RET), Elkhart, IN My Condolences - General Reiff will always be in my memory -I will miss our conversations at Post 985. "...Go to sleep, peaceful sleep, may the Soldier or Sailor God keep, on land or the deep, safe in sleep..." (verse 4 of TAPS).

Judy Frey, Nairobi Kenya, IN Linda, I am praying for you and your family as you pass through this journey of grief. May God Himself comfort you with His love, and sustain you with His grace.

Jill Szyarto, Elkhart, IN My thoughts and prayers are with you. Bill was a truly great man. We enjoyed getting to know him and working with him when he built our house. I know it gave him many headaches, but corners were not skipped and our house is as good today as the day he built it. I appreciated his honesty and integrity.

Dwight & Regina Gunter, Elkhart, IN Linda ,Gary,Dave & Kris and Grandkids our prayers are with You.

Paula Sheibley, Elkhart, IN My thoughts and prayers are with Linda, Gary and all the family during this time of their loss. May he rest in peace.

Mary Fruchey, Palmetto, FL Linda and all the family. My thoughts are with you at this time. I enjoyed knowing your dad. He was a delight. Mary