Van Sistine was born on August 16, 1926, in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from
West De Pere High School in
De Pere, Wisconsin, as well as what is now the
University of Wisconsin–Platteville. He was a school teacher and was in the building construction business. During
World War II, Van Sistine was in the
United States Navy. He was married with three children. He died on January 20, 2015, after a long period with
Alzheimer's disease. ==Political career==