Giving 33 teenagers the chance at an education that he never had, millionaire D. Schroeder earned his fortune from simply working hard and saving, he grew up poor and never got married or had any children of his own. After working for more than 60 years, Schroeder saved quite a sum and decided prior to his death to allocate those funds to some unsuspecting local teens.

Schroeder admitted that he never got the opportunity to go to college and that was his inspiration for the kind gesture, he wanted to help someone else achieve that dream.

After all of his hard work, frugal living, and saving, he managed to save just short of $3 million for himself and was determined to give it all away.

Schroeder passed away in 2005 and upon his passing he had left instructions on giving his fortune to kids who couldn't afford to go to college had they likely otherwise not received the gift.

"For a man that would never meet me, to give me basically a full ride to college, that's incredible... That doesn't happen." - said one student, K. Conrad

Prior to passing, Schroeder had approached his friend S. Nielsen who was a lawyer, who helped him to establish a scholarship for students in Iowa with the funds he was leaving. That scholarship recently finished paying for the last 4 students to complete their educational dream.

All of the students who received a scholarship had a fully-covered ride, including books, room and board, any fees, etc. Some of those who were recipients now admit they feel a need to pay the good gesture forward because they are so thankful for his generosity.

He Had Every Reason To Be Bitter

Nielsen admits that Schroeder had every opportunity to be bitter in life, after everything he had to endure along his journey; being abandoned by his own family at an early age or having never gotten married or had children. He never had the opportunity to play sports or go to college etc.

Instead of embracing negativity and bitterness for it all, he made the decision to always be happy and upbeat, Nielsen says.

In honor of the man who funded their dreams, the recipients of those scholarship funds now refer to themselves as "Dale's kids," and they try to gather periodically as well, in an effort to honor his legacy.

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