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Gerald Lee Nees 1938 - 2000

Gerald Lee Nees of Cory, Clay County, IN was born on January 1, 1938 in Terre Haute, Vigo County, and died at age 62 years old on February 6, 2000 in Terre Haute. Gerald Nees was buried at Zion Gummere Cemetery in Cory, Clay County.

Gerald Lee Nees

Cory, Clay County, IN 47846

January 1, 1938

Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, United States

February 6, 2000

Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, United States

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Gerald Lee Nees' History: 1938 - 2000

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Introduction

Gerald Lee Nees was the son of Ernest Cyril Nees and Phyllis Irene Brant, with one sister. At 16, a diving accident left him paralyzed from the neck down due to a broken back. Despite this, he completed his final semester at Cory High School through a radio-telephone system and graduated. Following his graduation, Gerald began his art training through a correspondence school. He became a talented painter, known for creating all his works using brushes held in his teeth. His love of nature, optimism, enjoyment of life, and respect for American traditions were evident in his paintings. Read more at About the artist ...handicapped but unbeaten. For more than 20 years, Gerald's art received wide acclaim, being featured in multiple exhibitions and earning numerous awards and critical praise. His one-man shows often sold out, and his work was highly regarded in the art community. A member of the Handicapped Artists of America, Gerald secured a scholarship from the Famous Art School with the help of Anita Shoemaker and had been displaying his work since 1964. On February 6, 2000, Gerald Nees passed away in Terre Haute, Indiana.
01/1

1938

Birthday

January 1, 1938

Birthdate

Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana United States

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

His father, Ernest Cyril Nees, was born on September 9, 1915 in Cory, IN and grew up in Perry, IN. He married Phyllis on February 4, 1936 in Bowling Green, Clay, IN. He passed away on June 6, 1963. His parents, Gerald's paternal grandparents were Marion Grant Nees (1889-1965) if Clay, IN and Hattie Mae Jackson (1891-1979) of Indiana. Gerald's mother, Phyllis Irene Brant, was born on April 22, 1915 in Sugar Ridge, Clay, IN and grew up there. After marrying Ernest in 1936, she resided in Perry, IN. She passed away on November 7, 2004 in Terre Haute, Vigo, IN. Both of her parents, Gerald's maternal grandparents were born in Indiana.
Nationality & Locations

Gerald was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on January 1, 1938. He grew up and resided in Perry, IN on a farm with his mother.
Early Life & Education

Gerald was injured in a swimming accident when he was 16, and had been paralyzed from the neck down while in high school but still managed to graduate from Cory high School by completing his last semester though a radio-telephone system. Read more at About the artist ...handicapped but unbeaten. Before his accident, Gerald was an athlete and a member of the Cory High School basketball team. Following his graduation, he began his art training through a correspondence school.
Professional Career

Gerald was a talented young artist who painted all his pictures with brushes held in his teeth and his work was featured in multiple exhibitions. He had been painting for over 20 years and his work had won wide acclaim. Mr. Nees's love of nature, natural optimism, enjoyment of life and people, and respect for American traditions were all reflected in his work. He had been the subject of over 300 articles in magazines and newspapers and on many TV and radio talk shows. Mr. Nees had had dozens of one-man shows where his works had invariably sold out and has won numerous cash prizes as well as critical acclaim. In 1968, he showcased 29 paintings and sold 9. He had showings at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago in 1970, St. Ann's Hospital in fall 1971, J.C. Penney's in Terre Haute in March 1971, Kentucky in October 1971, and Mr. Stone's art gallery in New Albany in November 1971 and February 1972. Gerald also displayed his paintings at the Cory Apple Festival in 1970 and 1971. In April 1972, he exhibited at St. Augustine's Hospital in Chicago, a trip sponsored by Richard "Dick" Wyatt, a Cory native and chairman of the hospital's board. Gerald is a member of Handicapped Artists of America in Salisbury, Massachusetts. With assistance from Anita Shoemaker at the Rehabilitation Center in Indianapolis, he secured a scholarship from the Famous Art School and has been displaying his work since 1964. Gerald is also known for painting and selling greeting cards, particularly winter scenes for Christmas, helping to keep Cory "on the map." See Cory Artist's Work On Display in Chicago.
Personal Life & Family

Gerald Lee Nees was the son of Ernest Cyril Nees and Phyllis Irene Brant. He had a sister. At the age of 16, he became paralyzed from the neck down when he suffered a broken back in a diving accident. He never married.
02/6

2000

Death

February 6, 2000

Death date

Unknown
Cause of death

Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana United States
Death location

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Gravesite & Burial

mm/dd/yyyy
Funeral date
Zion Gummere Cemetery in Cory, Clay County, Indiana 47846, United States
Burial location
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Gerald Lee Nees lived 12 years shorter than the average family member when died at the age of 62.

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4 Memories, Stories & Photos about Gerald

Paralyzed Man's Painting Given To State Official

Lizzie Kunde

29.0k+ favorites

07/23/2024

Paralyzed Man's Painting Given To State Official

State Senator Kenneth W. Reagin (D-Cory) presented to the state yesterday a painting by a 24 year old Cory man who is paralyzed from the neck down and paints by holding a brush in his mouth.

The large painting of three bird dogs was presented by Reagin to State Conservation Director Donald E. Foltz.

Gerald Lee Nees, a former Cory High School basketball player was paralyzed when he suffered a broken back nine years ago in a diving accident.

Nees has been able to support himself partly with money earned by painting, Reagin said.

During a hospital confinement in 1959, a dental student became interested in Nees and designed a special mouthpiece to hold pencils and brushes without damage to his teeth.

The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN) Tue, Dec 18, 1962 ·Page 29

Date & Place: December 18, 1962 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana United States

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About the artist ...handicapped but unbeaten

Lizzie Kunde

29.0k+ favorites

07/23/2024

About the artist ...handicapped but unbeaten

Gerald Lee Nees; injured in a swimming accident when he was 16, has been paralyzed from the neck down for 27 years. He paints his charming, highly detailed American scenes in a painfully slow process holding the brush in his mouth.

Mr. Nees, rejecting pity, refusing welfare, has never let his handicap defeat him. He has been painting for 21 years and his work has won wide acclaim. He has been the subject of over 300 articles in magazines and newspapers and on many TV and radio talk shows. Mr. Nees has had dozens of one-man shows where his works have invariably sold out and has won numerous cash prizes as well as critical acclaim.

Mr. Nees love of nature, his natural optimism, his enjoyment of life and people and his respect for the traditions of America are all reflected in his work which is destined to take is place among the paintings of the great American Folk Artists.

Anderson Daily Bulletin (Anderson, IN) Sat, May 10, 1980 ·Page 55

Date & Place: May 10, 1980 in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana United States

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Gerald Nees- Cory-Perry Township High School

Lizzie Kunde

29.0k+ favorites

07/23/2024

Gerald Nees- Cory-Perry Township High School

Photo of Gerald in the 1954 Cory-Perry Township High School in a dedication to him that reads: "We, the Senior Class of Cory High School dedicate the 1954 Apple Leaf to two boys
seriously injured in accidents during the vacation last summer---Erret Robertson and
Gerald Nees."

Date & Place: 1954 in Cory, Clay County, Indiana 47846, United States

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Cory Artist's Work On Display in Chicago

Lizzie Kunde

29.0k+ favorites

07/23/2024

Cory Artist's Work On Display in Chicago

CORY, Ind. (Special) - Gerald L. Nees, a talented young Cory artist who paints all his pictures with brushes held in his teeth, has a one-man show at the 5050 Art Gallery in Chicago. The show, which started June 24, will run for three weeks.

He has gained quite a reputation for excellent work in water colors and oil colors and has had pictures accepted for exhibitions including several Wabash Valley Shows in the Swope Art Gallery in Terre Haute.

Nees has done all this in spite of a physical handicap. He was stricken with paralysis when
a high school boy, but managed to graduate from high school. He then began his art training in a correspondence school.

His work now equals and often surpasses the paintings of those with full use of their arms and hands.

The Terre Haute Tribune (Terre Haute, Indiana, USA) Sun, Jun 30, 1968 ·Page 39

Date & Place: June 30, 1968 in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana United States

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Gerald Nees' Family Tree & Friends

Gerald Nees' Family Tree

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Gerald Lee Nees Jan 1, 1938 - Feb 6, 2000

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Other Biographies

Other Nees Family Biographies

Nees, Ruth (Aug 30, 1888 - Jan 1984) Nees, Joyce (Dec 25, 1924 - Feb 3, 2011) Nees, Katheryne (Jul 16, 1896 - Oct 1992) Nees, Frederick (Nov 30, 1890 - May 1983) Nees, Geraldine (Jul 3, 1934 - Jul 24, 2008) Nees, Michael (Jul 17, 1959 - Dec 2, 2009) Nees, Ernst (Mar 19, 1903 - Mar 1954) Nees, George (Oct 2, 1899 - Mar 1974) Nees, Hildegard (Jan 11, 1907 - Apr 23, 2001) Nees, Chalmer (Nov 12, 1888 - Oct 1962)

Nees, Mary (Jun 17, 1913 - Aug 18, 1990) Nees, Cornelia (Dec 5, 1903 - May 1992) Nees, Henry (May 12, 1901 - Jan 1970) Nees, Patricia (Mar 17, 1944 - Aug 18, 1996) Nees, Ernst (Dec 12, 1931 - Jul 6, 2004) Nees, Beatrice (Jun 22, 1904 - Oct 1988) Nees, Adelaide (Feb 8, 1921 - Feb 6, 1998) Nees, Louise (Sep 22, 1889 - Feb 1984) Nees, Otto (Oct 9, 1896 - May 1982) Nees, John (Mar 6, 1919 - Aug 2, 1975)

About the AncientFaces Community

Gerald Lee Nees 1938 - 2000

Gerald Lee Nees' History: 1938 - 2000

Introduction

Birthday

Ethnicity & Family History

Nationality & Locations

Early Life & Education

Professional Career

Personal Life & Family

Death

Gravesite & Burial

4 Memories, Stories & Photos about Gerald

Gerald Nees' Family Tree & Friends

Gerald Nees' Family Tree

Gerald's Friends

Other Nees Family Biographies