Photo provided by Sugar Lake Lodge.
The Siseebakwet Board of Directors is comprised of 15 full-time and self-proclaimed "snowbird" residents of Sugar Lake. The Board meets six times per year and is always available for contact via email.
Our Mission
Siseebakwet is a unique 1350 acre clear water lake. The name comes from the Ojibway word “Ziinzibaakwad,” and means “sugar,” hence the reason the lake is often referred to as Sugar Lake.
The mission of the Siseebakwet Lake Association is to preserve, protect, and enhance our lakes: and to provide social opportunities to our watershed and membership area.
In support of our mission, the primary goals are:
Support approved environmental practices.
Monitor and respond to changes in water quality.
Inform, educate and assist members and governing bodies regarding practices affecting our lakes and environment.
Provide social opportunities.
Working together we can fulfill our Mission Statement.
WHO'S WHO?
2023-2024 Siseebakwet Board of Directors:
Gwynne Bobich
Bill Hagenbuck - Vice President
Deb Hagenbuck
Tom Huettner - President
Vickie & Gordy Hoppe
Roger Quern - Treasurer
Danielle Witherill
Linda Lonson
Paul Mullany
Gwynne Bobich
Gwynne and her husband, Fred, have lived on Siseebakwet Lake for 25+ years and are the owners of Sugar Lake Lodge. Gwynne is serving her second term on the Lake Association Board and chairs the Social Committee. She is the current Chair of the Child Protection Task Force and a member of the CASE Committee in Grand Rapids, has served on the United Way of 1,000 Lakes Board, Camp Fire and the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation. “We have an amazing asset in our lake and the Siseebakwet Board works so very hard to protect it. It’s a pleasure to work with some amazing Board members.” Gwynne enjoys spending time with her three adult children, EIGHT (and counting) grandchildren, sailing, cooking, travel, and fishing with John Otis!
Tom Huettner, President
Tom, with his wife Paula, have owned a place on Sugar Lake since buying land on the SW shore in 2006 and completing their lake home in 2010. They have three children ages 20, 18 and 11 as of November 2016. Tom and Paula were raised in Omaha, NE and moved to Minneapolis from Chicago in early 1994 when Tom took a job with Cargill. Tom left Cargill at the end of 2014 to focus on his own investment endeavors in commercial real estate.
Tom is an avid volunteer to non-profits that focus on the health and welfare of kids by providing refurbished bikes to those in need (Tom managed a bike shop in Omaha in high school and college). Says Tom, “Sugar Lake is our refuge to enjoy life’s simpler pleasures like the serenity of nature, the laughter of family and friends, a good camp fire under the stars and the changing of the seasons. We have an incredible asset in Sugar Lake and our obligation is to maintain it for all future generations to enjoy”.
Bill Hagenbuck, VP
Bill and his wife Deb have lived year-round on the south side of Siseebakwet Lake since 2012. Bill’s parents purchased their 200 feet of lakeshore from Sugar Lake Lodge in 1968 and the “cabin” was built in 1969. Bill is serving his second term on the Lake Association Board and continues in his multi-year role as Vice President drawing on his career as a project manager. Bill’s additional contributions include serving on the Lake Management committee as “Receiver of Notice” by representing SLA with the Itasca County Environmental Serviced Department on variance and shore line permitting activities; assisting the Damn Weir subcommittee with fund raising; co-chairing the Road Clean events each spring and fall with his wife Deb; and helping with any winter activities when other board members are warmer. The Hagenbuck’s intend to remain in their newly remodeled lake home for the rest of their lives and look forward to passing their home and pristine lake shore to their children and grandchildren in the same or better condition than when Bill first arrived with the 12 foot aluminum rowboat he purchased with lawn mowing money at age 13, the boat is still tied to the dock each summer.
Deb Hagenbuck
Deb and her husband Bill have lived year-round on Siseebakwet Lake since 2012. Deb first came to the lake in 1974, when she and Bill were engaged to be married and has been part of the lake community ever since. Deb is continuing to serve in her second term on the Lake Association Board and is a full time reading tutor for Americorps, tutoring K-3 at King Elementary in Deer River. Her passion for books and reading led to her suggesting the successful Stone Soup theme for the first year’s Damn Weir fund raiser which she co-chaired with Bill. She hand addressed over 260 envelopes for the first mailing and hand wrote over 70 thank you notes for the first year pledges and donations. Deb currently serves with Bill as co-chairs for the Road Cleanup each spring and fall and is also responsible for the Neighborhood Watch. The Hagenbuck’s intend to remain in their newly remodeled lake home for the rest of their lives and look forward to passing their home and pristine lake shore to their children and grandchildren in the same or better condition than when she first came to the lake with Bill.
Danielle Witherill, Secretary
Danielle and her husband Todd are life-long residents of the Grand Rapids area and decided to make Sugar Lake their multi-generational home with Danielle's parents, Bob and Judy Blase in 2017. They have 3 young adult triplet daughters who love the lake and come home frequently to rejuvenate. They all enjoy the quiet solitude and beauty of the most desired lake in our area! They tend to many apple trees, raspberry and blueberry bushes, and many other veggies in their extensive garden on 5 acres. Fishing and pontoon rides are a must on our lake!
Danielle works as a financial advisor at Edward Jones and Todd is the Director of Operation at MDI in Grand Rapids. They joined the SLA to learn more about the history of the lake and how we can be stewards of its future prosperity so our kids and grandkids can enjoy all it has to offer.
Paul Mullaney
Paul and his wife, Sara, have had a seasonal presence on NW shore of Sugar Lake since 2001. Their extended family of four adult children, spouses and our grandchildren can often be seen waterskiing, swimming, running, mountain biking, cycling, cross-country skiing, paddleboarding. Paul retired in 2024 after 36 years from a Minneapolis based firm named AB CarVal as an investment manager, investing in commercial real estate and residential developments. Previously, Paul has volunteered as a Treasurer of the Stone Creek Homeowners Association, served on the Finance Committee at Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria, MN and has taught English as a second language to new immigrants at the Carver-Scott County Education Cooperative.