Minooka couple claim their Lotto winnings

CHICAGO — Although Craig and Janet Gossett of Minooka won an outlandish amount of money through the Illinois Lottery, their plans for spending it are very reasonable.

"We're going to take some fun vacations after paying off bills and getting our house," said Janet Gossett, 41, speaking by phone from Chicago after Wednesday's check presentation held by the Illinois Lottery.

The couple won $11.25 million dollars from a Quick Pick Lotto ticket Craig purchased Saturday, Dec. 10, from the Morris BP Fast and Fresh at 150 E. Commercial and Illinois 47. Craig, 44, usually buys his Lotto tickets there, Janet said.

"I checked my ticket at the store, and when I saw I had won, my hands started shaking and wouldn't stop," Craig said in a statement through the Illinois Lottery. "This win could not have come at a better time for us. The past six years have been hard, especially around the holidays. We feel truly blessed."

The couple is taking their winnings in a lump sum payment, which brings it down to $8,290,350 after taxes. The Morris BP will receive $112,500 as a percentage for selling the winning Lotto ticket, said Olamide Aruwajoye, public relations person for the Lotto.

The couple currently lives in a mobile home in Minooka with their dog, Dango. They plan to buy their own house in Morris.

"We just want to retire and live a pretty good life," Janet said.

Craig, 44, is a truck driver for Black Horse Carriers, Inc. in Dwight He hasn't decided if he'll continue to work, although he has still gone to work ever since he received the news of their big win. Janet does not work.

"Craig takes care of me, he always has," Janet said.

In their 10 years of marriage, they have gone through some tough times and were more than ready for some good news. Janet has Type 1 diabetes and had cervical cancer some years ago.

"We're just two grateful people," Janet said.

Like Candyland

Craig checked his numbers at the Minooka 7-11 and then headed home to tell his wife.

"He came home shaking and everything, and I didn't believe him," Janet said. "I said that's not real."

Because of his shaking, Janet thought he was hurt at first. Once he convinced her, she started screaming.

"I started screaming, 'We have the numbers!," Janet said. "I thought I was in Candyland, like the game, I didn't know what to think."

They then sat down for a bit to gather their thoughts and called Janet's parents in Indiana, who also didn't believe it. In fact, they were sure something was wrong and traveled all the way to Minooka to see if they were OK.

Craig and Janet are more than OK, and are looking forward to retiring together in a house that they own.

"We're moving to Morris," Janet said. "The people are so friendly there. We always like going for walks in their woods. We just love it there."

But first they want to take some vacations. The plan is to start in Minnesota and see the setting of the Little House on the Prairie.

"It's been unreal lately," said Janet. "We're trying to move along with the program one day at a time."