He was born June 25, 1933 in Cary, Illinois, the son of Edward G. Anderson and Rose M. (Homola) Anderson. Jack graduated from Crystal Lake Community High School in Illinois with the class of 1951. He went on to study education at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.

Jack was drafted to serve his country with the United States Army, entering into active service on July 17, 1956. He was stationed in Japan, the last place he initially wanted to be, but he came to love it there. Jack was honorably discharged from the Army on June 30, 1962 with the rank of SP4.

Upon his return home to Illinois, he continued his studies at Northern Illinois to complete his BS Degree in Education and MS Degree in Art Education. Jack accepted an elementary teaching position with Crystal Lake School District 47 where he taught fifth grade initially. There, he met fellow Elementary School teacher Susan Lindholm who taught just across the hall from him. They were united in marriage on June 19, 1965 at South Side Swedish Club in Chicago. Jack followed his passion for art, and switched to teaching art for the Crystal lake School District. He was a member of the Crystal Lake Teachers Association. Jack retired from teaching in the late 1970’s.

Jack and Sue opened an Art Gallery in the lower level of a building on the ferry dock in Gills Rock in 1971. In 1976, they moved their art gallery to Sister Bay and owned that until 2008. Jack and Sue moved to Door County full-time in 1986 and lived in Gills Rock until 2022. Then they moved to the Town of Sevastopol to be closer to their Sturgeon Bay family.

Jack became a well-known and respected artist within the Door County art community. He appreciated his friendships with fellow Door County artists, Charles “Chick” Peterson, Karsten Topelmann, and James Ingwersen, among others. Jack was a member of the Door County Art League and served on the Acquisitions Committee for the Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon Bay. He also served on the board for the Door County Humane Society (now the Wisconsin Humane Society – Door County Campus). Aside from his passion for painting, Jack also enjoyed decorating his home and was an avid reader of mysteries.