Powerball: Powerball lottery winnings to educate kids, fund parents' honeymoon

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Jay and Lory Schabo of Center, Wisconsin, said their life will not change that much after winning a $853,492 Match 5 Bonus Prize in the October 19th Powerball drawing.

It means college money for their three children and a honeymoon they never had a chance to celebrate when they were married 15 years ago.

"We're going to take care of our kids," Lory Schabo told reporters Tuesday, clearly nervous under the glare of television lights. "We're going back to our normal lives. We're quiet people."

There was confusion in their home that night, when the Powerball numbers were broadcast at 10 p.m. Their 13-year-old daughter was the only one paying attention. Jay said he bought the tickets in part because his daughter liked to fantasize about winning and keep track of the numbers.

"Actually, I was half asleep at 10 o'clock," he said. "I go to work at 7. I heard her start screaming. I said, 'What's going on?' She said we won $100.

"Then my son came in and said let me see the ticket. He said, 'No, look at the back, you won $200,000.'"

Then their other son, in college in Milwaukee, told them on the phone about the Match 5 Bonus Prize.

"I went to work the very next day," Jay Schabo said. "I thought, 'Oh gosh, I don't know what to do with all this.'"

Michael Edmonds, director of the Wisconsin Lottery, presented the couple with a mock check for $850,000 Tuesday morning at the Northsider Citgo where Jay Schabo purchased the winning Powerball ticket last Wednesday on his way home from work. He pointed out they missed the $340 million prize by one number.

After taxes, the Schabos will take home $582,508.29.

When they were married, Jay Schabo's father was ill and Jay had to help on the farm for the next few weeks while working his regular job. Now Jay and Lory are thinking they can afford a real honeymoon.

"She always wanted to see the lights of Las Vegas," Jay said of his wife.

He'll keep going to work, he said. Their oldest son is acting as their adviser and setting them up with a professional money manager.

Jay said with the winnings, he might not have to budget so carefully to replace cars or appliances when they break.

"But I'll probably still fix it myself," he said.

The Schabos bought their ticket at the Northsider Citgo, 5208 N. Richmond St. It was one of 49 that matched all five numbers in last Wednesday's drawing but not the power ball number of 29.

Normally, matching the five numbers would have netted the couple $200,000, but for the first time in Powerball history, the Match 5 Bonus Prize feature kicked in to more than quadruple their winnings.

The bonus pool was designed to provide more players with the opportunity to share in large, record-breaking jackpots. By the time Schabos bought their ticket, the jackpot had grown to $340 million and the Match 5 Bonus Prize Pool had risen to $32 million.

Powerball officials divided $32 million by 49, came up with $853,492, and started cutting checks.

Steve Rosek, owner of Northsider Citgo, received a commission check for $17,069 for selling the winning ticket. He said he planned to invest the money in his business.