09-05-2025
Couple from across Lake Michigan meet on the SS Badger car ferry and now have a family
MANITOWOC – The S.S. Badger has its very own 'meet cute' story.
Patrick Nelson started working for Lake Michigan Carferry, which owns the Badger, in 2004, the summer of his senior year of high school in Michigan.
'I started working at the Badger because I was on the high school track team,' he said. 'LMC often recruits track and cross country runners from 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.'
His future wife, Nicole Nelson, took a job on the ferryboat the summer of her senior year as well. She is a 2012 graduate of Lincoln High School in Manitowoc.
Both started as auto attendants — crew members who help load and unload vehicles onto the ship — on opposite sides of Lake Michigan and a few years apart. The co-workers eventually met, and Nicole asked Patrick out.
The couple were married in 2020, and now have a daughter, Roxanne.
All these years later, Patrick still works aboard the Badger — and has the important job of steering the ship. He worked as an auto attendant for three years and served as a deckhand for another three. He attended classes at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan. He also attended Grand Valley State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in special education.
He usually works during overnight Badger trips from June 20 to Sept. 1 or on weekends. During the offseason, he is a special education teacher and track coach at a Michigan high school.
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Nicole and her sister Marissa followed their older sister to jobs on the Badger. In 2021, they took on co-supervisor positions. Their dad and Marissa's boyfriend also work on the ship.
'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.'
During the offseason, the couple and their daughter live in Custer, Michigan, about 13 miles east of Ludington. Nicole also works at Home Depot and takes culinary arts classes.
In the summer, while Patrick spends a lot of time on the Badger, Nicole lives with her parents in Manitowoc. She could bring their baby girl to the Badger office while she worked.
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'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.'
Who knew the Badger could also be a Love Boat of sorts?
Owned and operated by Lake Michigan Carferry, the Badger makes four-hour runs from Ludington, Michigan, to Manitowoc and back. The spring season runs May 16-June 19, summer season is June 20-Sept. 1 and fall season is Sept. 2-Oct. 12. For tickets and more information, go to or call 1-800-841-4243.
Contact reporter Patti Zarling at pzarling@ or call 920-606-2575. Follow her on X @PGPattiZarling, on Instagram @PGPatti and Bluesky @PGPatti
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Couple meet on SS Badger, live summer life in Michigan and Manitowoc
