US

Elderly Man Mistakenly Gives Away Old Suit with $13,000 Life Savings Sewn Inside

An 80-year-old Illinois man is declining numerous offers of monetary assistance from those who’ve learned he mistakenly donated an old suit to Goodwill with his $13,000 life savings sewn inside the lining.

The man, described as too embarrassed to be identified, doesn’t know the exact date he dropped off his gray coat and pants along with other items at the Goodwill in Moline, Ill., but when he realized his mistake at least a week later, he “broke down and cried.” He kept the cash hidden in the suit for years because he didn’t trust banks, a not-uncommon practice of Depression-era Americans.

Goodwill employees from western Illinois to eastern Iowa have been conducting a search for the suit containing the cash, which the man needs to help care for his wife who’s battling stage-4 cancer. He’s offering a $1,000 reward for his lost savings.

Local TV news outlet WQAD has been fielding emails from “hundreds” of people across the country who want to give money to the man:

“Is there an address for the elderly man whom accidentally gave away the $13,000…I am from the Branson, Missouri area…My heart goes out to him. I’d like to make a donation with the hopes someone will return his money…just want to help…”

“If you could please ask his daughter to open a charity account or give people a place to donate to him, I know I would love to give him $100.00 this holiday season,” a California woman wrote. “I am not wealthy, but I can understand how hard times can be when a loved one [has] cancer and all the world seems to be so black.”

Last night, the man‘s daughter released a statement to WQAD from her father thanking those who’ve offered to help but “respectfully” declining financial assistance:

“Our family would like to thank each and every one of you that have come forward wanting to make a donation to my father for the money he has lost. We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity from around the world. My father’s wishes are to respectfully decline any donations of any kind. He only wanted someone to come forward with the money he gave away in error. God bless all of you. Sincerely, Our Family.”

The man and his family searched through items at the store where he dropped off the suit, said Dana Engelbert, vice president of marketing for Goodwill of the Heartland. “It could have been put out on the store floor [in Moline] already and sold,” she said, adding that employees also are searching through more than a month’s worth of donations at their Iowa City warehouse, where spring and summer clothing donations are being stored for the winter.

“We have a network of 14 stores spread far and wide across our territory, we have a great staff who wants to help,” said Engelbert. “We very much want to find this money.”

“Any time we’re told someone loses their life savings, that’s very important,” she added. “This family could use this money right now…we’re taking it very seriously.”

Here’s another news report on the missing cash:

Comments (59)

  • goodnews4us
    Posted on December 12, 2011 at 3:08am

    I see, he won’t accept offers of money, only the return of what’s lost. Will someone then anonymously, as I said in another comment, just send it. And the person who maybe has it, may they know that they will have bad luck, karma, probably guilt if they keep it. It’s not worth it. Return it.

    Report Post »  
  • cemerius
    Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:26pm

    His Goodwill and Heart will over come his hardship. Maybe someone will return it but I doubt that it will happen……sad days in America and they are yet to be fully bloomed!

    Report Post » cemerius  
  • tharpdevenport
    Posted on December 1, 2011 at 5:18pm

    See, if he had just used the sponder, Liberty Safes…

    You got to put it somewhere nobody would look, or in something nobody would want.

    A trap door in the bottom of a litter box — who’d look there?

    A carved out rubber sexual device that looks dirty and used — wad it up and put it in there. No one will steal that.

    Report Post » tharpdevenport  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:17pm

    Oh, I feel so sorry for this man (& his family) for the loss of the money and the heartbreak he must be experiencing. He must be so sad for letting his family down. However, the amazing gift he and his family have to share with all of us who have ears to hear & hearts to love is so precious. He will not accept charity. He will not depend on others. He will not “put others out” because of his mistake. This is the way elderly people who managed to make it through a major depression and years of struggling are. My Mother passed away last year the age of 92 without financial worry. My Father did not trust banks either. When he died at the age of 74, one of my brothers & my Mother were going through his cloths for Goodwill. My brother stuck his hand in a suit coat pocket &, low & behold, came out with a fistful of 20′s, 50′s &100′s. They tore through all of his cloths & came up with close to 100 grand. He took care of his wife in the only way he felt safe. In speaking to one of the nurses at my Mother’s retirement home, I was surprised to learn that this is not unusual for the elderly. Families have found money hidden all over the homes of their own parents at their passing. There are so many lessons to be learned here. Humility. History. Love. Shame. Forgiveness. Compassion. Understanding. God bless them.

    Report Post »  
  • marthasusan40
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:28pm

    I offer prayers tonight for the woman who has Cancer, the husband who made a mistake and the person who discovers the money and is able to return it to the rightful owner. I also offer prayers for all of the negative post here. Remember that when we get our reward and go to Haven, we can not take it with us, we are just temporary holders of anything material as well as our health..God Bless this family.

    Report Post »  
  • KKC003
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 4:45pm

    Would be a wonderful Christmas story if money is found. As a reminder when going through families belongings, furniture, paintings, etc. elderly hid money-this is the norm sometimes on purpose sometimes by accident/senility. They also hid in walls and floor boards and more- for emergencies-
    When my grandmother was ill my crazy relatives ransacked her home looking for her loot! They did not find it, because I was the only one that new where she kept it- and it was safe & secure! It went to the party who she wanted it to go to- not the money grubbers tossing her home when she was on her death bed. I respected grandmothers wishes & followed through with them. Love you Grandma.

    Report Post » KKC003  
    • MommyNeedsMoreCoffee
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 9:45pm

      @KKC003 Sweet story…thank you for sharing….you were a blessing to your Grandma in life and you keep her memory alive now.

      Report Post » MommyNeedsMoreCoffee  
    • kcares
      Posted on December 1, 2011 at 8:56am

      Martha, that was so nice of you to protect your grandmothers money. My family has been torn apart by my older sister (who I don’t claim anymore) because she stole the power of attorney from my mother and has been controlling her and her money for years, and the others in the family won’t stand up to her, go along with what she wants, which is wanting to put my mother in a nursing home for years. She is 90 and loves her home. Greed has destroyed our family. Prayers for this family.
      I hope the person that bought the suit returns the money. They will sleep better. But then again there are some that will sleep no matter how much they steal.

      Report Post » kcares  
  • bobemakk
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 4:42pm

    I hope there is an honest person out there that returns his money. This is sad.

    Report Post » bobemakk  
  • 3000dives
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 4:36pm

    I hope the reason for distrusting banks is not on it’s way back.

    Report Post »  
    • Cemoto78
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 9:01pm

      It is, along with a whole lot of mistrust in the government. (both parties)

      Report Post » Cemoto78  
    • Eblaze44
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:09pm

      There is a whole lot of reasons not to trust banks. The first one is they use your money to make big profits and give you didly in return. Then when you want to make a loan, they charge you to make the loan and interest on the money they loan you. The biggest reason is that they are all controlled by the federal reserve bank – the enemy of the United States of America – globalists that are seeking a one world bank that will control the government of the world.

      Report Post » Eblaze44  
    • Mimi24
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:38pm

      It looks like it may be. I love the responses that I’m hearing here though. I think Glenn knew that this was coming and that we would need community and support. I am so proud of my fellow Blazers and believe that if I had a need tonight I could state it and have help before I finished typing.

      Report Post »  
  • Nyle
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 4:10pm

    Let’s not just pray for the money, let’s all pray for his wife. I hope that I live long enough to see a cure for all cancers.

    Report Post »  
  • Yolla
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 4:04pm

    God Bless this man and his Family, they have learned well and do not wish to take any thing that they did not earn by working. I pray that they find his money and return it to him and REFUSE to accept the reward too.

    Report Post » Yolla  
  • ejbonk
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 2:43pm

    I pray this poor man’s money is recovered and very soon.

    Report Post »  
    • Faith1029
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 3:13pm

      It is sad this man won’t accept donations. If everyone gave just a little something it would be taken care of. Goodwill will probably be inundated with customers trying to find the cash. What a sad story.

      Report Post »  
  • EmilyC
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 2:29pm

    This is sad to me. I pray that the person who ended up with this suit will do the right thing and return the money. I have battled cancer (in remission) now for 4 years and I CAN ASSURE you that when you or a loved one is going through it, you have to prioritize and he just forgot. During the many trips I made to doctors and oncologists and hospitals, I completely forgot about changing oil in my vehicle and rotating tires, which cost me to buy new tires. My focus was fighting cancer and staying alive. This is why I believe that the person who finds this money and doesn’t return shoulda, woulda and willa have a heavy, heavy load on their conscious and it will eat them up, but if it’s a liberal like the OWS group, they will think they deserve someone else’s money. In fact, maybe they’ll start leaving the parks and go to GW stores to shop immediately.

    Report Post »  
  • ncrdbl1
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 1:23pm

    Sad news for the old man. On a side note this is life imitating art as this was the storyline in an episode of The Adventures of Superman from the 50′s.

    Report Post »  
  • SgtB
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:21am

    Why is this a story? It sounds like a man just has a habit of making poor decisions. Instead of investing his life savings in something with a rate of return that could have helped him care for his wife he sewed the money up in a suit. Then he gives the suit away and freaks out because he remembers he sewed up all that money in the suit lining to keep it “safe”. Then he offers a $1,000 dollar reward for $13,000? Does that make any sense at all?

    Does anyone here really think that there is a person in America who has to shop at Goodwill who upon finding $13,000 in the item they bought would return it for 1/13 of the amount that they legally own and have possession of? Stupid used to hurt and it should. If you make a $13,000 mistake then you make a $13,000 mistake. No one would ever advocate that a stupid college kid who did the exact same thing should get his money back. They would say that he should learn from his mistakes and shake their collective heads at him before walking away. To treat this man any differently is age discrimination and discrimination based on age is a federal offense now.

    Report Post » SgtB  
    • RN MOM
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:33am

      Grow a heart. He’s just posting a reward, just in case someone finds the money and want to return it. Who cares if he sewed it into his suit- lots of people did/do those kinds of things. It is just as possible that he was preoccupied with his wife’s illness and accidentally gave the suit away.

      Report Post » RN MOM  
    • TMGallagher
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:46am

      SGTB… surely your post must be a joke. You can’t possibly believe what you posted… and if you do… I’d venture a guess that you are a liberal/progressive. How about CONTENT OF CHARACTER… which is really the point of posting a $1,000 reward for the return of $13,000! ONLY a liberal/progressive would not understand THAT! This man of CHARACTER won’t even accept donations on his behalf but only asks that HIS money be returned to him and YOU have the audacity to malign him? Wow!

      Report Post » TMGallagher  
    • mikemains67
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:02am

      You sir are douche. You obviously have never made a mistake. And I bet don’t have a clue as to what this man has seen in his lifetime. He only wants to try and get his money as would you.

      Report Post »  
    • Hiswill
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:17am

      Your post is heartless and you have no clue what the elderly go thru in their “golden” years. My father had dementia at the age of 80. If there was anything hidden at his home we will never know. He just wanted to protect his family in case of an emergency.
      I shop at Goodwill. If I found the money, I WOULD return it and I know many other people that would do the same.

      Report Post » Hiswill  
    • NickyLouse
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:19am

      Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

      The lesson for you, SGTB, is that a person’s monetary status is not the measure of their heart. All poor people are not money-grubbers who would take advantage at every turn. Likewise, every rich person is not the philanthropist.

      If your opinion stems from the fact that you believe a rich person would see $13,000 and decide immediately to return it, don’t be too sure. Or if you believe that a poor person would not think twice about keeping it, then I feel sorry for you. Your jaded view of life is temporal at best.

      Report Post » NickyLouse  
    • MommyNeedsMoreCoffee
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:22am

      @SGTB Wow…having a bad day? You are quite a lovely individual. There was a story recently about a homeless man finding a backpack full of money and returning it. By your standards, he was an idiot.

      Report Post » MommyNeedsMoreCoffee  
    • Mike N
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:39pm

      .
      .
      @ SGTB . . . sounds to me like if you found the money, you’d keep it.
      .
      .

      Report Post »  
    • john1417
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 1:02pm

      really this is not a story? The guy doesn’t even want help from anybody. How often do you even hear that?

      Report Post »  
    • tommyzax
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 1:33pm

      I agree than SGTB has no point at all BUT have you noticed that you’ve all jumped on him with a chant, “Shame! Shame!” Really, folks, take a pill and allow someone to have an opinion. Otherwise, you‘ll have to choose whether you’re communists or fascists.

      Report Post »  
    • tommyzax
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 1:34pm

      I agree that SGTB has no point at all BUT have you noticed that you’ve all jumped on him with a chant, “Shame! Shame!” Really, folks, take a pill and allow someone to have an opinion. Otherwise, you‘ll have to choose whether you’re communists or fascists.

      Report Post »  
    • MommyNeedsMoreCoffee
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 1:48pm

      @Tommyzax So….if I think SGTB is heartless cynic and say so, I’m either a communist or a fascist? I think you and I use different dictionaries.

      Report Post » MommyNeedsMoreCoffee  
    • beingjohngalt
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 2:07pm

      @SGTB “Does anyone here really think that there is a person in America who has to shop at Goodwill who upon finding $13,000 in the item they bought would return it for 1/13 of the amount that they legally own and have possession of? ”

      Yes, I do believe there are those who would give the money back. You are just admitting that you wouldn’t?

      Report Post » beingjohngalt  
    • Sargint Rock
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 2:58pm

      I’m sure you are loved and highly respected by your circle of friends but I see you as bitter and the love of Christ is not in you. Repent. Have a nice day.

      Report Post » Sargint Rock  
    • Mimi24
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:15pm

      I shop at Goodwill. I don’t HAVE to shop there. I just usually find better quality there than the junk from China. Name brand clothing with tags still on. What’s wrong with that? I would return the money if I found it. Your post sounds like you think only lowlifes shop at Goodwill and would keep the money. I meet a lot of good people at Goodwill and trust them to do the right thing if the money is found.

      Report Post »  
    • Mimi24
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:33pm

      It seems that the people who need money in the worst way are the ones who return it.

      Report Post »  
  • ConservativeChristianB1954
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:16am

    I would do the right thing and return it. If I didn’t I would not be able to live with myself.

    Report Post » ConservativeChristianB1954  
    • MidWestMom
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:52am

      Ditto that. In fact, I have. Bought a vintage purse at an estate auction…found $50 in it. Promptly returned to the sale, gave the money back.

      Report Post »  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:55am

      same here.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
  • Bronco II
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:01am

    I pray that the person who has it will do the right thing and return the money.I know I would but that’s me I always try to do what is right in GODS EYES not man.And I wouldn‘t take a reward either the reward would be seeing the happiness on his face would warm my heart and know he appreciates it and if I could do it without him knowing who I’am that is the way I would do it don‘t need a spot light on doing something right that’s CHARITY-which means LOVE.

    Report Post » Bronco II  
  • Bigolfascist
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:00am

    That guy is definitely the old breed. Integrity, personal pride, and sense of responsibility. Glad my parents brought me up like that. I hope whoever got it will have the same traits and return it.

    Report Post » Bigolfascist  
    • wingedwolf
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:41am

      I agree with you, bigolfascist. It is what it is and I hope he gets it back.

      Report Post » wingedwolf  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 4:25pm

      The moral of the story is that a “sense of responsibility” is a very poor substitute for actual sense and actual responsibility.

      Report Post »  
  • Eliasim
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 9:54am

    Oh give me a break. The first thing they do is go through the pockets of the donations. I bet it‘s not the first time someone has lost 1000’s of dollars.

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:42am

      SEWN IN THE LINING .. not in the pockets … read!

      Report Post »  
    • MidWestMom
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:56am

      …“The first thing they do is go through the pockets of the donations”

      No they don’t. Have purchased several items with old kleenex, handkerchiefs, cosmetics, combs etc still in the pockets.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 9:35am

    God I hope he gets the funds back. That much money gone.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 9:57am

      He’s about as likely to get it back as much as Goodwill and the Salvation Army will manage to take the slothfulness out of people by giving them handouts.

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:01am

      And I’ve got news for you. When Jesus told “A” rich man to go sell all his things and give the money to the poor, [ it wasn't about the poor ], but that it was all about testing “A” rich man.

      Report Post »  
    • cessna152
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:19am

      Eliasim,
      Testing or teaching? This was NOT a test but to show how the young man was relying on the old system and not putting God first.

      From LASB:
      This young man wanted to be sure he would get eternal life, so he asked what he could do. He said he’d never once broken any of the laws Jesus mentioned (Mark 10:19), and perhaps he had even kept the Pharisees’ loophole-filled version of them. But Jesus lovingly broke through the young man’s pride with a challenge that brought out his true motives: “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor.” This challenge exposed the barrier that could keep this young man out of the kingdom: his love of money. Money represented his pride of accomplishment and self-effort. Ironically, his attitude made him unable to keep the first commandment, to let nothing be more important than God (Exodus 20:3). He could not meet the one requirement Jesus gave—to turn his whole heart and life over to God. The man came to Jesus wondering what he could do; he left seeing what he was unable to do. What barriers are keeping you from turning your life over to Christ?

      Also, Jesus says “You will ALWAYS have the poor among you…”

      BTW, I am trying to figure what your posts have to do with the story.

      Report Post » cessna152  
    • CatB
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 10:48am

      @ELIASIM

      You are a fool … I give all the time to Goodwill .. to help others .. it is things that I no longer need or want but can still be put to good use. I have given sweaters, and blankets in the past couple of weeks since it is going to turn colder in Florida .. try going to Goodwill and see what you find .. some of them were designer. IT isn’t just about the money they raise from sales .. many people go there to SHOP out of need. The prices are good and people are hurting.

      Report Post »  
  • cessna152
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 9:34am

    “offered to help but “respectfully” declining financial assistance”
    ____________________________________________________________________________________

    What? Maybe these occupier dopes can learn a lesson from this brave and upstanding man!

    Report Post » cessna152  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 9:30am

    .
    Ooooooops………..

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • GeneTracy
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:35pm

      My thoughts too.Kinda gives a new meaning to Goodwill.But seriously,hope things work out for this gentleman.

      Report Post » GeneTracy  
  • Mandors
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 9:26am

    Didn’t he watch Spongebob? You’re supposed to sew your life savings in a mattress like Mr. Krabs.

    Report Post » Mandors  
  • YoungBloodNews
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 9:23am

    So what are you gonna do during the forced bank holidays coming in our near future?

    Report Post » YoungBloodNews  
    • Mimi24
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:28pm

      Pray and trust God and prepare as well as He allows me to and take care of my family with His help.

      Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 9:17am

    Well, i bet the person who has it , will come forward…. Unless they blew it at a topless bar immexiately upon discovering it ; ))….

    Report Post »  
    • Bigolfascist
      Posted on November 30, 2011 at 9:56am

      I’m trying to get it all out of her G-String as we speak………

      Report Post » Bigolfascist  

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