John Huseby was born April 6, 1917 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Norway immigrants. He attended high school in his hometown, and then then went on to recieve a degree (1937) form Carnegie Institute of Technology (Carnegie Mellon University) in Pittsburgh. After college, he worked as a free-lance artist in Minnesota (1937-1938) and then an exhibit specialist for Walker Art Center (1938-1941).

Huseby was drafted into the military in World War II. During his service in WWII, he attained the rank of technical sergeant and worked in military intelligence with the 120th Combat Engineers of the 45th Infantry Division. He served with campaigns in Southern France, Southern Italy, Sicily and Germany. The army awarded him the Legion of Merit in 1944.

After the war, he returned to the Walker Art Center and worked there until 1948. Huseby left Minnesota to work for Iowa State University's Publication's Office as a staff artist, as a publications manager, and finally as the Senior Graphic Designer. During his time at Iowa State, Huseby oversaw thousands of publications and helped publize fundrasing for construction on campus. One of his most notible creations for Iowa State University is the offical University Seal, which he designed in 1959.

Beyond the Publication's Office, Huseby worked to assist in founding and curating Iowa State University Museums. He also belonged to many art organizations outside of Iowa State, such as Friends of the Octagon Art Center, Ames Society of the Arts, the Art Directors Association of Iowa, and Playmakers.

In addition, Huseby was an ardent collector of art prints ever since his time in the military during WWII, where he first purchased prints in France that included an original Picasso piece. With his collection, he loaned and donated many prints to institutions such as the Minneapolis Art Institute and the Des Moines Art Center, where he worked on the board of directors after his retirement from Iowa State in 1983.

Huseby died February 11, 1994 in Ames, Iowa. He is burried in Minneapolis.