Senior Chief Engineer Andrew VerVelde operates the port side engines during docking maneuvers.
Part 4
Story by Mark Varenhorst, Contributing Writer
Photos by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
LAKE MICHIGAN — On Tuesday, Sept. 29 2025, I boarded the S.S. Badger with my editor and friend Rob Alway. We were both covering that trip from different views and also from different crew members we spoke to along the way. In my earlier article I mentioned Mary Lou Ohnsman, purser and Scott Rogers, junior engineer who took us all about the historic ship. As Scott took us to every nook and cranny on the historic vessel his knowledge of her was astounding. We were actually In “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood”. I look forward to many return visits to meet up with him again and more of the crew.
As we went about, I had the chance to sit for a bit with Andrew VerVelde – now that is a Dutch name! “Andy” is the senior chief engineer on the Badger. Ver Velde (and I thought Varenhorst was a mouthful) was raised in Howards Grove, Wis. He went to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City from 2007 to 2011. He met and married his wife Rachel after asking her dad for permission. Yes, he did it the old fashion way. He joked, “to show her dad I was Dutch but not cheap I offered to buy breakfast. Two coffees and a roll I’ll cover it all”.
I loved the Dutch humor as my dad always told Dutch jokes as we grew up (with my last name you know I am Dutch). Hopefully I told that joke correctly, Andy, it is how I remember it, and I laughed again!
Andy and his wife, Rachel, live in Hart and have three children, Jane ,11, Amy, soon 8, and Henry, 6, and have another child on the way. Rachel runs an embroidery business, Needle In A Haystack Embroidery in Hart, which I was happy to learn about for my own personal reasons (I buy my hats from the UP, Rachel is much closer).
Andy spent time on the M/V Arthur M. Anderson, which most of all who know their ships know that it was the last ship to be in contact with the Edmund Fitzgerald before she sank 50 years ago this November.
As you watch things in the engine room area you are aware that as the boat goes back and forth between the Michigan and Wisconsin shores it is its own little town, as are each of the lake freighters that ply the waters. As Andy put it, “each boat is its own little world” and it is easy to see once that horn blows and they slip away from the dock that all thought goes to just their circle.
As I wandered about the boat poking my face in many places and taking notes, getting pictures I passed through the galley. Rob and I stopped and had lunch with members of the crew who were there at the time.
Cook Chase Baker prepares a meal in the galley.
I made a note as I filled my plate with them, that these people eat well. I mean, not to put down my food at home (I do live there) but the selection of items was interesting. Each time I passed through to get water or pop to drink I would stop to inhale the scents in there. The chicken bacon ranch wraps were tasty, and I do love French fries. Oh, and cupcakes. I only had a couple of those as they seemed to be running low.
I said hello to the cook, Chase Baker. This was his first year on the Badger. Chase is from Colorado, went to school in Colorado Springs and went to culinary art school in Utah. He met someone and moved to Ludington. As I watched the meals being prepared I did make a note that Chase was working on whitefish and I had not had that in quite a long time. I could see a couple more swings through the galley in my future.
Back in the engine spaces I met back up with Junior Engineer Scott Rogers and during that time I spoke with Lavocis Broughton, “V” to his friends. V started as a coal passer and is an oiler now.
Lavocis “V” Broughton oils machinery.
V is from South Carolina and mentioned when the season ends, he is hurrying home to his family almost instantly. His children are Andrea, 17, Skylar, 6, and Jaylen, 6. As we got talking, I could tell this was a man who loved what he was doing. He took great joy in working with his hands and learning new things from those around him.
“This company is good to me Mark,” he said. “I came here and I learned things. I work with my hands and you get dirty but it is good work. It is a good way for kids to learn”. As we moved about he was checking this, adjusting that, and always waving me to come along. The man did not seem to waste a step he was always on to his next spot.
“Every day is different Mark, I am going places not just home,” he said. “This is a job, a career, the Merchant Marine”.
V just had a happy attitude about him and seemed that he would just be fun to be around. As I watched him and thought back to Chase the cook and each person who I met I kept thinking they are the soul of the Badger. Once a ship ties up out of service it is a hull with a name waiting. When that crew walks on it comes alive. This group of people brings this historic ship to life every day.
We who live around the coast and the Badger forget what we have had in the ferry service that once thrived here. It had almost slipped away. We should not let go as it is still here, in the form of the Badger. She sails on. Ludington is still, and will remain a port city. We have that heritage going back so far in our history here. Many cities claim to be but Ludington is that, made so by the Flint & Pere Marquette Railway, then the Pere Marquette Railway, the C&O, Michigan-Wisconsin Transportation and now Lake Michigan Carferry.
Her piers are like arms open to the ships that wish to call her home, or visit for a bit. For me I will wait for my next visit to the Badger. Hopefully at least monthly so I stay in close contact and keep their stories coming for you. Though her season comes to an end next Sunday, Oct., 12, many of the crew will remain throughout the winter.
We all know the boats as they come and go by our shores. We all know the Badger. We all know the Undaunted/Pere Marquette 41. We need to know the crews that sail these ships that are near us. As with the Badger the crews are the very souls of these ships.
I made a note to let Chuck Leonard, general manager of Lake Michigan Carferry, know how enjoyable it was to be amongst the crew. Oh, and that I only ate three cupcakes. Next visit I am going to try that whitefish. I wonder if Chase makes fruit pies?
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