Nicholas Bainbridge

Nicholas “Nick” Adair Bainbridge served his country by working with NATO in Northern Europe, worked closely with the Mississippi River as Lockmaster of Lock & Dam 11, volunteered in his local community of Hanover as Fire Chief, and enjoyed life with his soulmate and wife, Nellie, in rural Hanover. At the age of 80, Nick passed away Friday, February 17, 2023 at the Galena Nursing Center after a recent decline in health. A Funeral Mass will be held 10 am Saturday, February 25, 2023 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hanover, with full military rites and burial in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be held 4 – 7 pm Friday, February 24, 2023 at Law Jones Funeral Home, Hanover. Memorials will be given for the Hanover Volunteer Fire Department in his honor.

Nick was born July 29, 1942, the son of Melvin and Ida Marie (Carlson) Bainbridge. Nick’s father served in the US Navy during WWII on the USS Liscome Bay Aircraft Carrier, and when Nick was just fifteen months old, his dad was killed, when the aircraft carrier was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine on November 24, 1943. Nick’s mother Ida later married John Potter in 1952, giving Nick a great Dad, and then was born a younger sister, Mary Jo, and a younger brother, John “Tim” Potter. Nick had a family, and it made all the difference.

Nick was a 1960 graduate of the Hanover High School “Go Red Devils!” After graduation, he served in the US Army as a Sergeant with a NATO clearance, in Northern Europe for almost three years. After returning home he went to work at the Savanna Army Depot as an Electrician/Lineman. In 1968, Nick married the girl of his dreams, Nellie Elizabeth Wild. They celebrated 55 years together.

In 1975, Nick began his career on the Mississippi River working at Lock & Dam 13. He then worked at Lock & Dam 12 and then became Lockmaster at Lock & Dam 11 in Dubuque. He learned to respect the river with its vast power, often giving his crew of twelve the credit for a smooth operation. He retired in 1998 after 34 years of service to our country, through the Army and the Corp of Engineers. Nick served a total of 42 years on the Hanover Volunteer Fire Department, and as Chief for six years. He also served on the Hanover Ambulance Association for nine years.

Besides his work and fire service, Nick enjoyed being home with Nellie, gardening, working outdoors and taking care of the home they built in 1972. He enjoyed fishing on the river, and hunting duck, deer and coons. His friends were many and he occasionally enjoyed stopping for a beer and just shootin’ the bull.

Nick will be dearly missed by his wife, Nellie; a sister, Mary Jo (Dave) Slocum; nephews, Walter Slocum and Kenneth Slocum; a sister-in-law, Mary Potter;and other nieces and nephews; Nick thought a lot of his niece and great-niece, Dina and Shaylee Wild for the time they spent with him. He is preceded in death by his father, Melvin; his mother, Ida; his stepfather, John Potter; and his brother, John “Tim” Potter.