Jackson Hanna was born in Acme township in Michigan, the fourth of eight siblings. Jacks father was a farmer who later became a commercial fisherman and a fish peddler. After Jacks father suffered a stroke Jack dropped out of school in his 8th grade year to help care for his family. He served in the Navy in the south pacific during world war 2 and saw service in Japan. Jack later married Dorothy Lorraine Ninnis and they had six children. Jack currently resides in Traverse City Michigan at age 94.