This official obit in the local Belleville newspaper contains some fascinating tidbits I'd never heard before. Did you know he lost several fingers in an accident at age 18 but they were sewn back on? That ended his budding career as a violinist before it began, but made it possible for him to at least hold a baton.

A sad way to go out, but it appears he kept up a sunny disposition against all odds right until the end. 

Conductor, radio host Kerry Stratton dies of ALS