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?
2026 Siseebakwet Board of Directors:
Paul Mullaney - Secretary
Bill Hagenbuck - Vice President
Tom Huettner - President
Linda Lonson - Treasurer
Don Evans
Lynn Erickson
Roger Laska
Brede Deschepper
Roger Laska
Roger and his wife Sara have lived year-round on the North side of Siseebakwet Lake since 2021 in the house that they purchased from Sara’s parents, who retired there in 1985. They have one adult child, Eric. Roger and Sara previously resided in the Twin Cities, and moved up to Sugar after retiring. Roger previously worked for 18 years at CenterPoint Energy as an Electronic Technician, and 22 years at Worldcom.
Roger, Sara and Eric hold HAM Radio licenses. Roger was previously the trustee of a HAM radio repeater site in Carver MN (WB0RMK). Rogers radio call sign is AA0EA, and he often monitors the area’s Ham repeater (K0GPZ at 146.88 MHz).
Roger and his family are environmentally conscience, and try to keep their use of chemicals to a minimum, and are supplying a portion of their home’s electrical needs via the solar panels that Roger and his son Eric installed on their roof. Roger joined the SLA board in 2025, and is currently on the Water Quality Management & Education Committee.
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 Hagenbuck
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 attends a Sugar Lake Association (SLA) board meeting as an observer in July of 2012 after the Hagenbucks relocated from Texas and left the meeting as Vice President. He continues to fulfil that role after 14 years drawing on his career as a project manager.
Bill supporting contributions include serving as “Receiver of Notice” for communication with Itasca County Environmental Serviced Department on variance and shoreline permitting activities; he authors annual grant requests for funds from Operation Roundup for the porta-potty at the public access; and authors grant requests for matching funds for AIS projects with the Itasca County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD);
With Deb’s help, they co-chair the Road Clean events each spring and fall and help with any winter activities when other board members are in warmer climates. They coordinate the Borrow and Return life jacket program at the public access with help from a couple of the public access’s neighbors. Both Bill and Deb are certified AIS Detectors and are available to evaluate suspect creatures and plants when needed.
Bill also serves as the Vice President of the Itasca Coalition of Lake Associations which serves the county by coordinate lake association projects where he communicates SLA’s activities and represents SLA’s interests. In addition, Bill serves on the SWCD Technical Advisory Committee as one of two representatives from Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) and helps SWCD with summer public awareness programs. He also helps Itasca Waters create their Water Wisdom Webinar series.
The Hagenbuck’s intend to remain in their Siseebakwet 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.
Brede Deschepper
Brede and his wife moved into their home on Sugar Lake in 2016. Brede is a USAF Veteran who was on Active Duty from 2002 to 2006. In the Air Force, he served as an Aerospace Medical Service Journeyman (4N051) and was stationed in Rapid City, SD, for most of his enlistment. Brede has been married for 16 years. He and his wife own and operate a business in Grand Rapids.
Brede joined the Siseebakwet Lake Association to better understand and support the health of the lake they live on. He is excited to learn more about the organization, as this is his first time volunteering on a board.
Paul Mullaney, Secretary
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.
Linda Lonson, Treasurer
Linda Lonson grew up “on the range” (Hibbing MN) AND, lucky enough, on the beautiful Sugar Lake providing lifelong memories and “character” building moments! Her parent’s cabin (now her parent’s permanent residence) was where she would reside weekends and summers throughout! With a vision to retire on the lake someday (there is no place like home) similar to her parents, she is also now a permanent resident herself on the lake of Sissebakwet Shores Road with her husband, Scott! A lifelong Sugar Lake enthusiast, Linda has a passion to protect the water, nature and quality of life for all residents’ enjoyment for generations to come!
Linda Lonson currently serves as Treasurer of the Sissebakwet Lakes Association (SLA). Her experiences leading to and easily facilitating this role include but are not limited to:
If Linda isn’t on Sugar Lake swimming/paddleboarding, on a pontoon, at a SLA member/board meeting or golfing at Sugarbrooke you can find her at the airport/on a plane traveling for work across the U.S.!!!!! She looks forward to meeting and advocating for all members ultimately ensuring that the beauty of Sugar Lake transcends! Thank you for this opportunity!