Virgil "Nut" Terwi

Virgil Lee “Nut” Terwilliger, 78, of Gilmore City passed away Monday June 22, 2015 at the Paula Baber Hospice Home in Fort Dodge. A celebration of Nut’s life will be Sunday June 28th 1 to 3 PM at the Rutland Community Center.
Virgil Lee Terwilliger was born in Iowa City, one of fourteen children born to Clifford and Marie (Andersen) Terwilliger. He grew up and attended school in Humboldt. The growing family lived in several residences in the community including the “basement house”. His mother gave him his nickname because he cracked nuts for her. Nut left school before completing high school to work with horses. He worked for Art Berry from Fort Dodge. Nut tended the horses, and at age 12 rode alone with a train load of horses to California. He began driving harness horses when he was 14, which was against the rules, but he eventually got his license at age 16. Young Nut even unwittingly participated in hauling bootleg hooch to Chicago, smuggled in a twin screw truck loaded with horses. Nut drove in races all over the United States and Canada, as well as Tijuana Mexico, where he got his infamous black panther tattoo. At one time he was the third ranked harness driver in the US; his brother Richard was ranked second. He continued to drive in races until the mid 2000s.
In the midst of his horsing around, Virgil met and married Marlene Moser in 1958. They had a son Kevin, and a daughter Tammie. Nut and Marlene later parted ways. Nut worked other jobs to support his horse habit. While he was employed by Edge Brothers, Nut bought a lot halfway up the Dakota City hill, and with the help of some skilled movers they moved a house to that location. He worked for Dodgen Industries as a welder, as well as Blacktop Service and was custodian at the Humboldt County Court House. He also drove a concrete truck for Geise. On occasions when he won a race, he would share his fortune with his co-workers by bringing a pony keg to work. He owned and operated the bar Nut’s Landing in Rutland for a short time. Special friend Cookie helped Nut with everyday tasks and tending the horses. After retiring from driving racehorses, he continued to train them as long as his health allowed.
Horses were number one in Nut’s life by his own admission. He would go without so his horses would be taken care of. This being so, Nut still loved children, especially his children, grand and great-grandchildren, and they loved Nut. He continued at family tradition and gave them nicknames, some printable, some not to be repeated in polite company. Even his horses had nicknames such as “The Jerk”. He was Nut by name and Nut by nature. People who knew him appreciated his sense of humor and love of life.
Remaining to remember Nut’s life are his children Kevin (Brenda) Terwilliger of Clear Lake, Tammie (Gary) Marchant of Gilmore City, grandchildren Ashley (Joel) Pals, Christa Terwilliger, Colby (Alissa) Marchant and (Devin McKenzie) Marchant. Nut’s great-grandchildren are Brandy, Levi, Jayden, and Frankee and Charlie the dog. Virgil’s surviving siblings include Leon Terwilliger of Kenoweth, WA, Jim “Shot” Terwilliger and wife Shirley of Livermore, Norma “Little Norm” (Jim) Beck of Creve Coeur IL, Joyce (Joe) Wagner of Wesley, Julie Anderson of Rutland, Duane (Sharon) Terwilliger of Cedar Falls, and Bernard “Bum” Terwilliger of Bradgate. Preceding Nut in death were his parents, siblings Richard “Dick” Terwilliger, Galen “Peel” Terwilliger, Marilyn “Twig” Shoemaker, Mildred” Millie” Baker, Margaret “Mugs” Pilcher, and Dennis “Eyener” Terwilliger.