Minnesota Couple Claim $180 MILLION Powerball jackpot

[Junkenpo]

I'm envious, but I'm glad that a good thing happened to good people.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080507/...werball_winner

ROSEVILLE, Minn. - Paul and Sue Rosenau say they already have everything they need, so their lives won't change that much after winning a $180.1 million Powerball jackpot.
"We realize that money is probably not as important as friendship and helping others. And that's what we hope to do with it," Paul Rosenau said at a news conference Tuesday when they accepted a ceremonial check.

Rosenau, 54, is a heavy equipment operator and his wife, Sue, works at an agricultural research institute. The couple from Waseca will take the prize from last Saturday's drawing in a lump-sum of $59.6 million after taxes.
Their win came five years to the day of the death of a 2-year-old granddaughter, Makayla, who had Krabbe disease, a nervous system disorder.

"It's very emotional to know that there's a reason for this," Sue Rosenau said.

She said the family has been involved in trying to get a Krabbe test part of routine newborn screenings. Their winnings may go toward those efforts, but the Rosenaus haven't made any decisions.

"It's been such a whirlwind," Paul Rosenau said. "It still hasn't sunk in."

Rosenau said there are things he and his 54-year-old wife have dreamed of — a new house, a vacation to Hawaii, taking a trip with their children — but for the most part they felt fortunate before they found out they won the Powerball jackpot.

"We don't need a lot. We've got more than what we need," he said. "We want to have a regular life."

[dsrk]

Good for them ~ they sound like a very nice couple!!!

[Emotus]

^ iTA. Good things DO happen to Good people. :)

[chag]

Good for them, too bad they will have every worm in the world wanting something from them

[Veelyn]

Must be nice. But really, its good it happened to good people. Its so sad to hear about their granddaugher.

But they only got 59.6 mil after taxes? That aint right!!

[toiletduck]

That's so sweet of them to say that they already have everything they want Good things do happen to good people!

[guccimamma]

what great people.

they will do wonderful things with their money. they have their heads on straight.

[purseinsanity]

They sound like such nice people. Hopefully, they won't fall under the lotto curse. That's horrible about their granddaughter!

[Jahpson]

$59.6 million? man those taxes are crazy!!! i would rather have the money gradually.

I believe that if I won large amount of money, I would be very reasonable with how I spend it. First of foremost get out of debt and then purchase a house. Don't need anything fancy or extravagant. I would be like that couple and keep working as well.

[Sternchen]

That's amazing!

Best wishes to them :)

[LV-PRADAfanatic]

hope thye managed their wealth well...

[Pinkcaviar]

Seems like they've got their priorities right. A lot of ppl turn their life upside down with such a huge win because they're so overwhelmed.

wow that's alot, over 50% of their winnings went to taxes!

So sad to hear about their baby grand daughter. must be such a mix of emotions.

[laloki]

I hope they enjoy their winnings, I'm envious! I hope that they continue to have a happy life, far too often large wins like this change lives often not for the better. But what a lot they have paid in taxes...I think I would have taken the money over time to save on the tax.