Napoleon Dismuke Jr. was born October 20, 1946 to Napoleon and Alberta Dismuke in Cleveland, Ohio.  He was the youngest of four children and their only son.  As a child he loved to draw, ride horses, and watch western style movies.  In 1966, he enlisted in the United States Army where he was honorably discharged.  Following in the family tradition, in 1973 he became a police officer for the city of Cleveland.

After retiring from the Cleveland Police Department in 1992 at the age of 46, Napoleon wanted to fulfill his dream to become a professional artist.  He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1999 and a Master of Arts in Art Education from Case Western Reserve in 2001.  He was a member of the African American Artist Alumni for Case Western Reserve.  Napoleon began a second career and taught Art for Cleveland Municipal School District from 2001 – 2010, retiring due to health reasons.

Napoleon is survived by his wife Lynda, sister Jackie Martin, honorary brother Taft Stewart; children, Amy Ivory Martin, Tanya Dismuke Winston, Courtney Christie, son-in law Demone Christie and Adam Dismuke; grandchildren, Kaleah Garrett Dismuke, Adam Dismuke Jr; a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and colleagues.