$10.5 million Lottery winner: ‘I’m the same Abe’
Published: July 30, 2005
Abraham Wondergem Jr., a child of the Great Depression, was used to being poor for most of his 78 years. Until now.
But he won’t allow a $10.5 million lottery jackpot put dollar signs in his eyes.
Or, let his status as a millionaire go to his head.
‘’I’m the same Abe as I was two weeks ago and I’ll stay the same Abe,’’ said a humbled and down-to-earth Wondergem, who retired in 1993 as an assembly man at Dietrich Drill Inc. in LaPorte.
In fact, the lifelong LaPorte resident said his only real plan for the money is to help Ben Wondergem, his cancer-stricken younger brother, pay medical bills.
And to make sure his grandson Michael, a 21-year old college student, gets off to a good start in life.
“He means a lot to me. He’s a young man. So let’s just see that he’s taken care of and provided for,’’ he said.
For the most part, Wondergem is happy just knowing he’ll be able to take care of his own future bills.
He’ll keep living in the same house that he’s owned for the past 26 years. He doesn’t have visions of luxury cars or other major purchases.
“I don’t intend to get on an airplane and just fly around the world. I might take a trip. I have some very dear friends in Hawaii I’d like to see one more time. Other than that, that’s about it,’’ said Wondergem.
Instead of receiving the money in annual installments over 30 years, Wondergem, chose the $4.6 million lump sum cash option.
“When you add 30 to 78, I don’t think I’d make it,’’ he said.
Wondergem claimed his prize at the Hoosier Lottery headquarters Tuesday in Indianapolis.
The winning Hoosier Lottery numbers were drawn Saturday.
Wondergem checked his numbers Sunday, but three days passed before he told telling anyone.
He even kept quiet as curiosity quickly spread throughout the city when news leaked out the winning ticket was sold in LaPorte.
The ticket was purchased at Rush Hour Foods from Michelle Lynn, a clerk at the store at 1033 E. Lincolnway.
“I’m freaking out. I’m so excited and happy for the man who purchased it,’’ said Lynn.
Rush Hour Foods will receive a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
Lynn isn’t expecting Wondergem or her employer to give her a cut but has her fingers crossed that a little bit of good fortune can rain down on her too.
“I could use another vehicle,’’ she said.
Some people might expect women to come flocking to Wondergem, who’s divorced and lives alone. If they do, he’s not interested.
“There’s a lot of nice ladies, don’t get me wrong. But this idea of suddenly getting money and seeing the girls around town, I think that’s a fast way of spending money,’’ Wondergem said.
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