Ross Grimmel lived a simple life. He never married, had no children and lived all his life in the same brick house in Chicago. He retired at the age of 45 after serving in World War II and attended law school.
He was also a Scouting leader for over 60 years and has touched the hearts of everyone who knew him. He was considered by many in his community as a family member.
Ross never spent any money, but bought $1,000 of Walgreens stock about 70 years ago on his brother’s advice. Over the following decades, that turned into $2 million. Ross then decided to donate all proceeds to the Illinois Audubon Society to build a wildlife sanctuary!
The result was the 400-acre Gremel Wildlife Sanctuary, and luckily Ross was able to see it all come to fruition before his death shortly after.