John Norall was born in North Platte, Nebraska on December 27, 1920. Norall studied at the University of Nebraska, graduating in 1942. He immediately enlisted in the Coast Guard during WWII and spent 5 years there, serving in the Pacific theater where he worked as a Combat Artist. After the war Norall had a long career as an advertising designer and art director at the international BBDO agency in San Francisco. During this time he created hundreds of ads and illustrations and travelled internationally.

John Norall married Charlene Husband in 1947 in San Francisco and they moved to Mill Valley, California until moving up to Santa Rosa after his retirement. Norall's  work is included in many private collections around the country. Other exhibitions have included the National Gallery and the National Press Club in Washington D.C., The Coast Guard Academy, Mystic Seaport Museum, San Francisco Maritime Museum, Coast Guard Foundation, University of Nebraska, Denali Park Hotels, and The Bay Model Gallery.

John Norall died in Santa Rosa, California on January 28, 2024 at age 104.