Timothy O. Terwillegar

Timothy Otis Terwillegar, of Harbor Beach, passed away peacefully on August 24, 2026, after a short battle with cancer, with his family by his side. He was 77 years old. Timothy was born on August 15, 1949, in Midland, Michigan, to Otis and June (Thomas) Terwillegar. He graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Animal Husbandry, beginning a lifelong love of animals, farming, and the outdoors. On November 3, 1981, Tim married the love of his life, Renee (Main) Terwillegar. Together, they built a life centered around family, hard work, farming, and their love for the people and community around them. Tim spent nearly his entire life farming and working with animals, especially cows, which were one of his greatest passions. He was a person who could fix almost anything and loved tinkering with small engines. He became known throughout the community for helping friends, neighbors, and others repair their equipment, often asking for little or nothing in return. Helping people was simply part of who Tim was. His generosity extended far beyond his own community. When he was younger, Tim traveled to help rebuild homes in communities devastated by hurricanes, giving his time and skills to people in need. He always had a way of putting others ahead of himself and was known for his kindness, empathy, and willingness to lend a hand. Tim loved nature and spent many happy hours fishing and hunting. He also loved sports, both participating in them and watching them, with basketball and baseball holding a special place in his heart. To many of the people he worked with, he was affectionately known as “Tunga.” He enjoyed showing off his ability to perform a human flag and was always willing to settle an arm-wrestling challenge. Above all else, Tim loved his family. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who took great pride in watching his family grow and participating in their lives. He loved watching his grandchildren play, joking around with them, and sharing in their accomplishments. His sense of humor stayed with him throughout his life, and even in his final days, he continued to bring smiles and laughter to those around him. Tim will be deeply missed by his wife, Renee (Main) Terwillegar; his sons, William (Melissa) Terwillegar and Joseph (Jennifer) Terwillegar; and his grandchildren, Greenlee Harris, Cash, and Clay Terwillegar, June, Audrey, and Rosemary Terwillegar. He is survived by his siblings, Connie (Harry) Swartzentruber, Fay (George, deceased) VanCise, and Tom (Judy) Terwillegar; and his sister-in-law, Michele Weadock. He will also be remembered and missed by his many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, Otis and June Terwillegar, and his brother, Will Terwillegar. Tim leaves behind a legacy of kindness, hard work, humor, generosity, and compassion. He was the kind of person who helped others without expecting anything in return, loved deeply, worked hard, and found joy in the simple things—family, animals, the outdoors, sports, and a good laugh. His impact on the lives of those around him will continue through the many people he helped and, most importantly, through his family. Visitation will be held at Ramsey Funeral Home in Harbor Beach on September 2, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Tim’s memory to the American Cancer Society, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, or the Harbor Beach Little League Association. Tim was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, neighbor, and community member. He will be remembered not only for all that he did, but for the kind of person he was. He will be deeply missed.

Timothy O. Terwillegar

August 15, 1949 - August 24, 2026