91-year-old tried to get rid of a decades-old 'crock pot' — only to accidentally give herself a $32,000 surprise

Have you ever been surprised with a lot much bigger than your expectations? For a 91-year-old Nebraska native, Lois Jurgens, that question became a life-changing reality. In an interview with TODAY, Jurgens' daughter, Vicki Stepanich, revealed that her mother just celebrated her birthday in a huge yet unusual way, by selling a 30-gallon Red Wing Stoneware crock that had been sitting on her back porch for several decades. It fetched her a whopping $32,000.

While she was away, volunteering at her local church, her crock was receiving bids in five-digit numbers. "You just can’t imagine that something that’s been sitting on the back porch for almost 30 years brought that kind of money," Stepanich said. "So it is just kind of shocking." Crocks, a type of stoneware container typically used for food storage, don't usually sell for such a high amount. Mostly, these containers sell for anywhere between $20 to $100. So, what made Jurgens' crock so special? Well, it was a variety of factors.

According to Ken Bramer, owner of Bramer Auction and Realty, which sold the piece, Jurgens' crock had not one but two different stamps on it. When he dropped by Jurgens' home, where the crock sat on the porch, he knew he had a winner in his hands. The crock had a set of blue butterfly markings on it, which instantly shot up its value in the eyes of any die-hard collector, reported the New York Post. Additionally, it also had elephant ears on the handles, not to mention its telltale salt glaze and fine condition.

All of these factors combined heavily to add to the crocks' value. "Usually you could buy a lot of crocks for a couple of hundred," he said. In fact, that's what he told Jurgens as well. So, as expected, when he told her that her crock had fetched more than a couple of hundred dollars, she was surprised. As the 91-year-old learned how much it sold for, "She kind of went weak in the knees." 

Nonetheless, now that the dust surrounding Jurgens' massive sale has settled, the senior citizen is being flooded with suggestions on how to spend it. However, denying plans to travel, Jurgens said she prefers to stay close to home. "I just kind of like to go in my own surroundings," she says. Despite that, she does have plans regarding her massive windfall, as per Stepanich. "Well, it’s gonna go to the church partly, and then I don’t know from then on,” Stepanich says, then adds with a laugh, “It won’t take long to get rid of it all.” But money isn't the only thing that Jurgens has had to handle since January; she's also become somewhat of a local celebrity. 

"My name has been changed to Crock Lady," she further noted. "It’s been a fun and interesting three weeks." “I got a message from someone who was at the auction and said, ‘There’s a great story happening here,’” says Colleen Williams, a former news anchor who now runs The Bright Side, where she broke the story. “It’s been a joy to play a part in this reaching so many people, and I know that Lois has said it’s one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to her — and at age 91."

More on Scoop Upworthy

175 'Stewart's Shops' convenience store workers woke up overnight as millionaires

Woman realizes ring she found at a garage sale 30 years ago has a diamond worth $350,000

Woman bags renowned artist's painting for $4 at thrift store. It is now valued at over $250,000.