W.F. Jannke III was born and raised in Watertown. His ancestors came to the city in the 1840s, one founding the first lager brewery in the city. Jannke attended Watertown public school and graduated from Watertown Senior High School in 1979. In 1985, he graduated with an associate's degree in commercial art from Madison Area Technical College. In 1983, he began an association with the Watertown Historical Society and has served as the president of that group for several years. He is also a founding member of the Dodge-Jefferson Counties Genealogical Society, Inc., and has served as its president in the past. In his spare time he enjoys reading, writing, collecting vintage Watertown memorabilia and acting. In 1988, he founded the Watertown Players, the city's local theatrical group. He is the author of nine previous books on the history of Watertown and Jefferson County. He is also in great demand as a lecturer on Watertown history and currently teaches a class on the history of the city as well.