Gary Schaefer claimed a $10,000 Powerball prize Monday at the lottery’s regional office in Cedar Rapids. But his best news of the day came during a medical check-up before he claimed his prize.
“We went to Iowa City this morning and got good news there that I’m 100 percent cancer-free,” he said.
It’s a day that the 58-year-old said he’ll always remember.
“It’s been a really super-good Monday,” he said.
Schaefer’s ticket matched four white balls and the Powerball in the April 11 drawing to win a $10,000 prize. Hy-Vee, 551 S. Illinois St. in Mason City sold the winning easy-pick ticket.
Schaefer said he’s a regular Powerball player, but doesn’t check his tickets right away. So while he filled up his vehicle with fuel Sunday at a local gas station, Schaefer had his sister, Sandra Schaefer, go inside and check his tickets.
“She was in there a long time and she comes a walking out and she goes, ‘I’ve got to tell you something – I think you won some money,’” he said.
Sandra then gave her brother a lottery terminal receipt showing him that one of his tickets won a $10,000 prize.
“It was like, Wow! This is cool,” he said.
Even with a receipt, Schaefer said he and his wife, Diane, were still skeptical that they’d actually won until they claimed their prize from the lottery. The couple said the lottery winnings will go toward bills and they plan to save the rest.
The winning numbers in the $80 million jackpot drawing on April 11 were: 1-12-32-42-58 and Powerball 12. The Power Play number was 2. A ticket sold in Florida won the jackpot that night. Wednesday’s jackpot is an estimated $40 million.
Winning numbers may be checked at the lottery website at www.ialottery.com or through the winning numbers hot line at (515) 323-4633.
