SHIPSHEWANA — Brig. Gen. William H. Reiff, 76, died at his home early Thursday morning.

He was born June 15, 1936 in Bluffton, to George Herman and Eileen (Schlaugenhauf) Reiff.  

He married Judith McFarren June 25, 1953, in Bluffton. She died April 26, 1997.  He later married Sammi Chupp Feb. 24, 2007.  She survives.

Also surviving are a son, David L. (Kris) Reiff, Goshen; a daughter, Linda (Gary) Maust, Goshen; his stepmother, Betty Mitchell, Portland, Tenn.; three stepchildren, Sharon (Lyle) Shinn, Bristol, Roger (Laurie) Chupp, Goshen, and Rick (Joyce) Chupp, 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, LaGrange; and a sister, LuAnn (Tony) Garton, 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 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 Army and Army Reserves.

He served as Battalion Commander of 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 Medal and Army Commendation Medal along with numerous other medals and decorations.

He was a member and Exalted Ruler of the Elks Club; a member of the American Legion Post 210 of Middlebury, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 985 where he was a past commander; Goshen Disabled American Veterans Post 15 and the Concord Rotary Club.

Friends may call from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home in Goshen.

A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with brother-in-law, Tony Garton, officiating.

Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery, Bluffton.

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

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.yoderculpfuneralhome.com.