John was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated with a BA in Business from Western Michigan University. He worked his way through college by spending his summers glazing wooden windows at a sash and door company. John made several forays into the business world, but his heart was not into it. He eventually teamed up with his father and they established a unique Architectural Millwork Company in Grand Rapids. They specialized in creating historical windows and doors for commercial buildings in the West Michigan area. They also crafted custom entryways for high-end homes along the lakeshore from Chicago to Petoskey. After retirement, John realized he missed working creatively with wood. He began experimenting with resin poured on canvas and other surfaces. He eventually combined the resin pour with various types of wood species and was struck by the beauty of combining the two. He was drawn to creating a functional work of art and began producing charcuterie boards, and later sculpture as well as sculptural vases incorporating glass.John and his wife Cynthia live in the Saugatuck area with their dog Jenny.