John E. Holmes Jr., of West Wareham, died Nov. 21 at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston with his family by his side. He was 60.

Born on Nantucket in 1947, John was the eldest child and only son of John Sr. and Leona Holmes, who were both educators. He spent most of his life on the Cape and Islands, living at times in Provincetown and Falmouth, on the Vineyard, and most recently in West Wareham.

“Big John” was a talented engineer, welder and metal fabricator. During the 1990s, he had his own fabricating business at Maciel Marine in Vineyard Haven. Until his departure from the Vineyard in 1999 he was the mechanical maintenance engineer for the Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs.

His impressive creations include a tugboat (Sheila Ann of Vineyard Haven), a pump-out boat, multiple barges, a racecar, several hot rods, and a plethora of railings and sign hangers.

In addition to being an expert craftsman, John was a knowledgeable and patient teacher. He taught welding classes on the Vineyard in the late seventies and early eighties, and mentored many other beginning welders throughout his life. He was “the man with the answers”—a natural problem-solver and a well of useful information. An experienced carpenter and mechanic, he could build, fix or explain the workings of just about anything.

John was fascinated throughout his life with American transportation history, particularly the railroad, shipping and trucking industries. He was a commercial truck driver for some time, and an antique truck enthusiast. He owned a 1953 GMC 630, which he fully restored and occasionally took to antique truck shows around New England. He enjoyed driving immensely, and loved to travel, either alone or with his daughter or friends.

Survivors include his daughter, Martha Abigail Kent-Holmes; his stepdaughter, Tanya Koch, and her family; and his sister, Josephine Kennard of Enfield, Conn., and her family.

He was a dedicated and loving father, a humorous and entertaining storyteller, a loyal friend, and an unforgettable character. He was an important part of many people’s lives, and he will be deeply missed.

A memorial service for John will be held at the Holy Ghost Association (Portuguese-American Club) in Oak Bluffs on Sunday, Jan. 20, at 3 p.m. For more information, e-mail cirque79@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the John E. Holmes Memorial Scholarship Fund, attention Valerie O’Donnell, Edgartown National Bank, 24B Circuit avenue, Oak Bluffs MA 02557.