by Lor'e A. Postman
Staff Writer
ANDALUSIA - A Davenport couple who suffered serious burns when their houseboat exploded here Saturday afternoon were in Trinity Medical Center, East Campus, Saturday night, a hospital spokesman said.
David and Diane Anderson, ages and address unknown, were in the hospital's burn unit. Mrs. Anderson was in critical condition while Mr. Anderson was listed in serious condition.
Rock Island Sheriff's Deputies said the 30-foot boat exploded about 1:20 p.m. as the couple were pulling out of the Wintergreen Harbor into a Mississippi River slough.
Mr. Anderson told police he had just put in 30 gallons of gasoline to top off the boat's 50 gallon tank. The couple pulled out of the harbor, throttled the engine, and the tank, located in the middle of the boat, exploded, the police said.
The couple jumped into the river, where the were rescued by Jenny and Kevin Archibald of Andalusia. The Archibalds brought the Andersons to shore, where they were taken by ambulance to Trinity Medical Center.
Police said the couple received multiple burns on their hand, arms, legs, faces, and heads.
Witnesses reported two dogs that were also on the boat were missing after the explosion.
Police did not know what caused the explosion. Sheriff's deputies and Illinois State Conservation Police were continuing an investigation at press time.
Services for Diane K. Anderson, 46, of 2111 E. Lombard, Davenport, formerly of Milan, are 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Milan. Burial is in Memorial Park, Rock Island.
Visitation is 3 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Wheelan Funeral Home, Rock Island, with a prayer service at 8. Memorials may be made to the burn unit of Trinity Medical Center, East Campus, Moline.
Mrs. Anderson died Monday, Aug. 1, 1994, in the burn unit of Trinity, East Campus.
The former Diane Jones was born Jan. 17, 1948, in Milan, the daughter of Earl Lyle and Connie J. Guldenzopf Jones. She married Mike Stewart June 17, 1967, in Milan. She married David L. Anderson Oct. 28, 1988, in Davenport.
She was a 1966 graduate of Rock Island High School and had attended Black Hawk College. She graduated from the former Cele Wahn Beauty Academy, Rock Island.
She operated the former Stewart's House of Beauty, Milan. She also worked as a bookkeeper for several firms and presently had been employed at Main and Locust Pharmacy, Davenport, for the past few months.
She was a resident of Davenport since 1988.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport, Milan Woman's Club, and had been the queen director of the Milan Indian Summer Festival for a number of years.
She enjoyed boating, fishing, and collecting teddy bears.
Survivors include the widower; a daughter, Amy Stewart, and sons and a daughter-in-law, Robb Stewart and Brian and Danielle Stewart, all of Milan; stepdaughters, Debbie Plies, Janesville, Wis., and Doris Moreno, Davenport; stepsons Mike and Mark Anderson, both of Davenport; her mother and stepfather, Connie and Dwain Wyant, Milan; seven grandchildren; brothers and a sister-in-law, Gary B. and Mary Jones, Coal Valley, and Kevin Wyant, Rock Island; a half-brother Dwain Wyant Jr., Rock Island; and a special friend, Cece Wilson, Milan.