Born June 24, 1924, in Cutler, he was the son of the late Robert Louis and Geneva Barnard Reef. He graduated from Cutler High School in 1943. His marriage was to Marjorie Peterson Sheagley on Oct. 28, 1953, in Cutler. She survives.

Mr. Reef was a retired Cutler area farmer. He was a member, elder, deacon and trustee of Cutler Presbyterian Church, a member of the Masonic Lodge for more than 50 years and a charter member of Cutler Volunteer Fire Department, serving more than 25 years.

An Army veteran of World War II, he served from 1944 to 1946 in Germany with the 82nd Airborne as a paratrooper.

Surviving with his wife are two sons, Bob Reef (wife: Heidi) and Scott Sheagley (wife: Jill), both of Bringhurst, and two sisters, Rosemary Dyer (husband: Bob) of Cutler and Phyllis Cook of Flora.

Calling 4-8 p.m. Monday at Baker Funeral Home, Flora. Service there at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006, the Rev. Charles Compton officiating. Interment Ball Hill Cemetery, Cutler. Six grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren survive. Memorials: American Lung Association or Cutler Presbyterian Church.

[Published in the Journal and Courier, Lafayette, IN, 22 Nov 2006]

(courtesy of Richard Lybrook)

Grave marker for Joseph C. Reef in the Ball Hill Cemetery, Cutler (Carroll county), Indiana.

Joseph enlisted in the Army at Ft Benjamin Harrison, IN on 26 June 1944.

On 8 March 1945 Pvt Reef was transferred to Company D, 508th PIR from the 11th Reinforcement Depot.  He was promoted to Pfc on 20 March 1945.