Nicole, Roxanne, and Patrick Nelson
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
LUDINGTON — There is a common theme among the crew of the SS Badger: Family. Whether that is a closeness that is created through the shared purpose of working on a unique and historic vessel that has served the Great Lakes for 72 years, or whether it is actual family. Often multiple members of the same family are hired in, strengthening what makes the Badger so special. For Nicole and Patrick Nelson, the Badger brought them together and now they have begun their own family.
Patrick started working for Lake Michigan Carferry the summer of his high school senior year in 2004. He is a graduate of Mason County Central High School. Nicole also started working for the Badger the summer of her high school senior year. She is a 2012 graduate of Manitowoc Lincoln High School in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Both started as auto attendants, the crew members who expediently load and unload vehicles onto the ship — on opposite shores and a few years apart.
Today, Patrick is a licensed able bodied seaman (AB) who serves as a wheelsman. The wheelsman, as the name indicates, steers the ship. Nicole and her twin sister, Marissa Senglaub, are the co-supervisors of the Badger’s Manitowoc ticket office. As supervisors they oversee several elements of the Manitowoc office, including passenger relations and shore operations.
“I started working at the Badger because I was on the high school track team,” Patrick said. “LMC often recruits track and cross country runners from the local high schools to work as auto attendants. I thought to myself, ‘I can do that: Get paid to run. No problem.’ It was fun.”
He worked as an auto attendant for three years and then served as an ordinary seaman (OS), also known as an entry level deckhand, for three years, where his duties included line handling, deck maintenance and fire/lifeboat/emergency duties.
Patrick then attended classes at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City where he earned his AB license. He has since also attended Grand Valley State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in special education.
With the AB license, he had the position as watchman for eight years. For the last eight years, he has served as a wheelsman. Typically Patrick works during the overnight sailings (this year’s overnight sailings are from June 20 to Sept. 1), or on weekends. For nine months out of the year, he is a special education teacher and track coach at Mason County Central High School, a job he has had for eight years with a total of 11 years teaching.
Nicole and Marissa started working at the Badger because their older sister, Mikayla, had been working there for a summer job. In 2021, they took on the co-supervisor positions. For the past four years, their dad, Jeff Senglaub, has worked at the ship as an auto attendant and security in Manitowoc. Additionally, Marissa’s boyfriend, Robert Ball, works at the Badger as an auto attendant.
From left, Patrick and Nicole Nelson, Ann and Jeff Senglaub, Marissa Senglaub and Robert Ball.
“I have met so many people and have developed so many friendships over the past 22 years,” Patrick said. “Of course, the passengers are the best part of the job. I really enjoy having conversations with them. Every summer we get to see many of the same people and meet new people. The Badger becomes a part of their lives.”
Nicole agreed with Patrick, saying one of the best parts of the job is interacting with the passengers.
In 2020, Nicole and Patrick were married. Nicole is quick to point out that she asked him out first.
Having a marriage that crosses a 60-mile wide lake can be a challenge. When the Badger isn’t operating, Nicole and Patrick live in their home in Custer. In the “off season,” Nicole works at Home Depot in Ludington and has also taken culinary arts classes at Grand Rapids Community College.
During the sailing season, Patrick spends a lot of his time living on the ship while Nicole lives with her parents in Manitowoc. Last year, the arrangement became a little more challenging — but in a good way. The Nelsons were blessed with a baby girl, Roxanne.
“Last year, I was able to bring her into the office frequently, and it worked out pretty good,” Nicole said. “Now, she’s nearly a year old, that may be a bit more of a challenge. Luckily, she has wonderful grandparents on both sides of the lake who are willing to help out.”
Just a few short years from now, Roxanne will probably tell her own story about being the third generation of her family to be part of the Badger tradition.
To learn more about full time careers and seasonal jobs on the Badger, click here.
The 2025 sailing season begins Friday, May 16. To reserve tickets visit ssbadger.com or call 800-841-4243 Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET).
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