Our Founder’s Journey
From Brokenness to Calling: The Story of SuAnne Vannatter
SuAnne Vannatter is a tribal member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of L. Superior Ojibwe. Her story began in Chicago with parents caught in the world of addiction. Consequently, within the first year of her life, SuAnne became separated from most of her siblings.
Richard Moore & Betty Jack
Virgil and Ernestine Murphy
SuAnne has looked back to see how God clearly guided her life. She and her older brother Mike were fostered and then adopted by a Native American Christian couple, both tribal members living on the Stockbridge-Munsee reservation.
Virgil and Ernestine Murphy were both WWII veterans, offering SuAnne and Mike two older “new” sisters and a loving and stable childhood, introducing them to Jesus at a young age.
As a young adult, SuAnne entered marriage, discovering the world of alcoholism through her husband’s own addiction. Thankfully he found salvation in Jesus, and after committing his life to the Lord experienced many years of sobriety, living life as a wonderful husband, father and friend.
Sadly, he returned to alcohol, and in the Fall of 1999 made a decision to drink and drive which altered their family forever. He survived the accident, suffered a traumatic brain injury and continued his journey with alcohol, which their marriage did not survive. SuAnne became a single parent to their three sons ages 14, 10 and 7 and returned to school to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Nearing the end of her academic pursuit in 2002, SuAnne experienced loss yet again. Her brother, having experimented with drugs earlier in his life, was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Unfortunately, Mike did not survive the treatment and passed away, leaving a son and daughter, his ‘baby sister’ SuAnne, and so many others who loved him dearly.
Pressing on with the help of the Lord, SuAnne completed her nursing degree in 2003. That same year brought more happiness, with the blessing of a new marriage to Randy, and one more son. SuAnne went on to later receive her Master of Science in Nursing, becoming a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.
Throughout that season of pain and happiness, God graciously provided healing as he brought both her birth and adopted families together. SuAnne was reunited with her biological father, and with her Ojibwe mother, Betty Jack, who had retired after many years as a substance abuse counselor.
Using her knowledge acquired through many years of educational training, SuAnne offered mental health services to veterans for six years. In 2019, she began working on the Lac du Flambeau reservation, serving the Tribal and surrounding communities. Having personally walked through the pain and destruction that alcohol and addictions bring to families, she is grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside others as they find hope and healing. SuAnne is most grateful for finding her faith in Jesus and the strength in Him that has brought her through it all and provided such gracious times of healing and hope. Randy and SuAnne continue to walk together in marriage, while thoroughly enjoying being grandparents to 13 grandchildren!
While SuAnne experienced restoration through Jesus, there were additional deaths, losses and pain within her extended family, all related to substance abuse. Each of their stories would take many more pictures, tears and time to tell. Through witnessing this pain and destruction, SuAnne sought the Lord to be used to do even more for her Native brothers and sisters, and all those struggling with addictions.
God answered.
As only God can do, He allowed lives and stories to intersect. In the summer of 2022, SuAnne and Randy visited a church in Phillips, Wisconsin and learned of a new Christian transitional living center, located in Hayward, Wisconsin. They heard the testimony of men who found sobriety and salvation, while being transformed through the power of Jesus Christ
God’s plan began to unfold
Within days, God quickly confirmed His plan when her nephew Mike, the son of her late brother, called asking for help. He was ready to battle his addiction, becoming aware that he could not survive much longer.
Mike was accepted into the Greater Hayward House of Hope, and by August of 2022 he found salvation in Jesus, and deliverance from alcohol and drugs. Mike remains sober, on staff at House of Hope, and in training for ministry.
SuAnne is grateful for God’s answer, plan, and clear direction. She is seeing good coming from what the enemy meant for evil and certain He will do the same for others!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jer. 29:11 (NLT)
And so begins the birth of Yahweh Warrior Lodge, a Northwoods Training Ground.