Don Kegarise

By Laurie Lechlitner
InkFreeNews

KEWANNA — “I can remember when a barn was more important than the house,” stated Don Kegarise, Kewanna.

“I spent a lot of time on my grandma’s and uncle’s farm when I was growing up. I loved sticking my hand in that big grain bin. Then I’d feel the wheat and smell it. I grew up on natural food. I think that’s why I’m 97 and still living. That’s part of the reason I enjoy painting old barns and other farm and nature scenes. I love sharing my legacy with upcoming generations through art.”
Growing up during the Great Depression helped develop Kegarise into the person he is today.

“Sometimes I feel sorry for kids today. They have ample food and clothes and take those things for granted. But during the Depression, we appreciated everything we had and took good care of it. Some of us didn’t know where our next meal was coming from. We were fortunate to have a garden with fresh food. My mother canned and cooked homemade meals.”

Kegarise was one of 12 children. “We learned to be resourceful growing up in those hard times. Can you imagine supporting 12 children with no income? We were very poor but somehow managed.”

His fondest memory was watching the airplanes fly over his house. “The airplane was my first love. Because there weren’t very many planes in the sky, our family stopped what we were doing to watch them fly over our home when we heard them in the sky, even if it was supper time.”

It was Kegarise’s dream to fly an airplane. “I wanted to be a certified pilot. So, at 16, I mowed yards and did other odd jobs to pay for flying lessons at the airport. On the days of my lessons, I’d hitchhike to the airport. Then there was the day I finally soloed. I was still only 16, and flying at 3,000 feet all by myself was the best feeling on earth. I did a couple loops in the air to celebrate.”

Kegarise has been a widower for 1 1/2 years. “My wife Kathy was an artist too. She was also a photographer. We’d drive the back roads and she’d take photos with her camera. We eventually painted them in acrylics.”

In 2000, when Kathy’s health required the Kegarises to move to the country, Kathy designed their new home in Kewanna. “I’m a cabinet maker. We pretty much designed and built the house ourselves. I made the bedroom suit, and various other furniture. What memories.”

A battle with shingles infected Kegarise’s left eye and he lost his sight in it. “Then I developed macular degeneration in my right eye. Now I’m legally blind.”

However, being legally blind has not stopped him from painting. “One of the VA representatives made me a setup using a camera and a TV screen. Now I can enlarge the photo and get the fine details. My daughter Andra has arranged my color pallets and labeled the paints on top so I can choose the colors I’m using.” Right now, Kegarise is working on a heron in a body of water.

Being a self-taught artist, who has grown famous for his work, Kegarise encourages others to try painting. “I’ve taught many artists through the years. Those who really want to paint are the successful ones.”