Adolph Christopher Bakken III

Chris Bakken, 65, of Madison, MS, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on April 16th, 2026, at his family’s lake house in North Carolina. His wife, Katie, was by his side to comfort him as he left this earth; he did not suffer. In his final hours, he was doing what he loved and was the happiest his family had ever known him to be.

Chris was born March 19th, 1961, in Buffalo, NY to proud and loving parents A.C. Bakken Jr and Barbara Summers Bakken. He spent his formative years in Buffalo, NY and Lausanne, Switzerland before moving to Beaver, PA where he attended high school and met the love of his life, Katie.

After high school, Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Grove City College in Grove City, PA, followed by a Master’s in Industrial Administration with distinction from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

He had a long and successful career in nuclear power, starting in 1982 as a test engineer for Duquesne Light Company. Shortly thereafter, he earned his Senior Reactor Operator License in 1986 from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for Beaver Valley Unit 1.

Over the next several decades, he held positions of increasing responsibility in operations for both domestic and global companies, including American Electric Power, Public Service Enterprise Group, British Energy, EDF Energy, and ultimately Entergy. In his final years with Entergy, he was remembered as a colleague, mentor, friend, and a true servant leader.

After his retirement in 2023 as executive vice president and chief nuclear officer for Entergy, Chris and Katie spent the next several years traveling the world together. They became avid scuba divers and shared a love of underwater photography. When not traveling together, they loved being at their lake home in North Carolina and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Chris was one of the proudest fathers and grandfathers you could have ever met.

Chris will be deeply missed by his wife of 42 years, Katie Bakken, sons Chris (Sara) Bakken and Alex (Christine) Bakken, sisters Sandy (Joe) Caruso and Ellen (Keith) Colonna, sister-in-law Sarah (Greg) Glisman, his seven nieces and nephews, and his two grandchildren, Ana and Theo Bakken, whom he loved so very much.

There will be a celebration of life for Chris in Madison, MS. Details will be communicated when they are finalized.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to causes that Chris was passionate about: 

The Bakken Family Scholarship Endowment: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1472/g20/form.aspx?sid=1472&gid=1&pgid=683&cid=1644&DIDS=258 

or 

The Diemer Family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-samuel-find-stability-and-hope