Explosion in Bucklin claims family of three
Mother was a 2014 graduate of Plainville High School
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THREE PEOPLE were killed and one was injured when a building exploded in Bucklin on Saturday, October 14, 2023. (Photo Courtesy of Ford County Sheriff Carr) -
TWENTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD Robin Hamilton, 26-year-old Jerry Isakson, and 21-month-old Stormi Isakson died in an explosion in Kansas. Photo: Facebook -
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CHRISTIAN STIMPERT received extensive burns to both hands from the explosion on Saturday, October 14th, in Bucklin. -
AN UP-CLOSE VIEW of the burns to the hands of Christian Stimpert from his hospital bed at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Burn Center in Wichita.
A young family was tragically killed in an explosion in Bucklin just before 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 14. Another was taken to St. Catherine Hospital in Dodge City before being airlifted to Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Burn Center in Wichita, where he was treated for burns.
One of those killed, 28-year-old Robin Hamilton, was a 2014 graduate of Plainville High School. Besides Hamilton, also killed were her daughter and boyfriend, 21-month-old Stormi Isakson, and the infant's father, 29-year-old Jerry Isakson.
According to reports, The Ford County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office are investigating the cause of the explosion as an accident.
Ford County Sheriff Bill Carr confirmed three people had died, and one person was taken to a hospital after the explosion.
The Ford County Sheriff's Office, Ford County Fire Department, EMS, and Bucklin Fire Department soon got on the scene and found three people inside a building who were pronounced dead. A fourth person was found and taken to the hospital.
Isakson had brought along his girlfriend and daughter so he could help his friend, 26-yearold Christian Stimpert, remodel a commercial building to house a salon for his wife on W. Center Street in Bucklin.
Stimpert returned home from the hospital on Tuesday, October 17, after suffering extensive burns in the explosion.
Stimpert and Isakson had applied glue across a floor before installing linoleum. Stimpert believes the pilot light on the water heater likely mixed with the fumes and ignited, causing the explosion.
Stimpert indicated, 'Everything went up in flames…he went to the door to open it, but they had locked it' while doing the work. Once Stimpert saw a window had been blown out, he jumped out of the window, where he could crawl from the fire, and flagged down a driver to call 911.
Stimpert met Isakason at a Christmas party about six or seven years ago and quickly became close with the family. Isakson worked at Diamond Roofing in Dodge City, where colleagues remembered his work ethic. 'He was a great guy and loyal, hardworking Diamond Roofing employee,' a friend said in a Facebook post.
Hamilton was a stayat- home mom who also worked in administration at McDonald's. Friends of Robin posted the following on Facebook: 'A beautiful family gone way too soon,' while another read, 'Rest in peace, Robin… The world is going to miss your infectious laugh and sweet heart.'
The couple's daughter liked watching Blue's Clues, making messes, eating popsicles, and walking the dogs. She loved looking at all the natural sights and flowers, and she always looked for the moon and pointed it out; she also loved kitty cats, and would point and run to the nearest one.
A memorial fund has been established for the family at First State Bank at 120 W. Mill St., Plainville, KS, PO Box 160. Checks can be written to the Isakson and Hamilton family Memorial Fund.
A memorial gathering service for Jerry, Robin, and Stormi was held on Saturday, October 21, at the Senior Center in Plainville.
A GoFundMe account has been set up for Christian Stimpert at the following link: https://gofund. me/649a9f53 An obituary can be seen on Page 5A in this week's Sentinel.
