John L. Sandstedt was born in Los Angeles, CA on December 6, 1920. He was raised in Brazos County, TX where he attended A&M Consolidated High School in College Station. Sandstedt went on to graduate from the University of Texas in 1942 and enlisted in the U.S. Army fighting in World War II (WWII).

After the war, Sandstedt returned to UT and earned a law degree in 1947. Sandstedt opened a law practice with Brownrigg Dewey and was a city attorney for both College Station and Navasota, TX. He was also a professor of management at Texas A&M University, President of the Toastmaster's Club of the Brazos County Bar Association, President of Texas Exes in Brazos County, and a member of the Continuing Education Committee of the State Bar of Texas.

Sandstedt married Clara Ullrich in 1956 and the couple had four children. He was an active member of the A&M United Methodist Church in College Station, TX and taught Sunday school there. John L. Sandstedt died on March 9, 1988.