Will Grefe (1875-1957) was born in Des Moines, Iowa. At age 15 he started working for an engraving company, and his talents were easily recognized. He went to New York to study at the Art Students League at 17. When he finished his studies there he traveled to France where he studied for a few months before moving on to Munich, Germany. He then moved to Buffalo, New York, to reunite with is family who had moved there while he was studying in Europe.

He later moved to New York City to set up a studio and began working for The Saturday Evening Post along with several other magazines like Life, Puck, McClure’s, and Cosmopolitan. Grefe also created illustrations for post cards, calendars, and playing cards. He retired and moved to Miami where he opened a restaurant and continued to paint.

Grefe created eleven covers for The Saturday Evening Post.