Joseph Guerin of Edgartown died on March 29 at home with his family beside him. He was 61. The cause was carcinoid cancer.

Joe was born on Feb. 19, 1957 in Hempstead, N.Y., the son of the late William F. and Helen M. (Christensen) Guerin. He grew up in a large, loving family with six sisters and two brothers, often moving around the country following his father’s career as an engineer during “the race for space.” After high school, he moved to Philadelphia and went to work as a plumber while attending technical school at night.

Joe married Katy Kleine on July 28, 1979. A year later they relocated to Martha’s Vineyard where Joe went to work for Lauress Fisher at Edgartown Hardware as a journeyman plumber, and began raising a family. In the early 1980s, he volunteered for the Edgartown fire department as well as becoming a volunteer EMT. In 1988 he started Guerin Plumbing and Heating, which he operated with passion until shortly before his death.

Joe loved the outdoors and over the years spent much of his free time on or in the waters around the Vineyard. He enjoyed boating, fishing, running, hiking, skiing and snowboarding.

Most important to Joe was his family. He was an utterly devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved his wife dearly, and was endlessly proud of his three daughters. In his final years, he saw two of his daughters marry and welcomed five grandchildren and one grandpup to the family. Nothing made him happier than spending time with the ones he loved. He spent countless hours teaching his children and grandchildren about tools, how to fish, and the importance of doing something right the first time.

In addition to his wife of 39 years, he is survived by three daughters: Morgan Olson of Boston, Lark Bakkensen of Darien, Conn., and Hannah Guerin of Brooklyn, N.Y. He will also be fondly remembered by his five grandchildren: Carter, Rowen and Bowdoin, Olson, Hopper and Willa Bakkensen; and eight siblings, Joan Guerin, Bill Guerin and his wife Molly, Lauretta Guerin and her husband David, Monica Mansour, Tom Guerin and his wife Patricia, Mary Guerin-Coursen and her husband Scott, Elizabeth Beatty and her husband Michael, and Jennifer Overmoyer and her husband Richard; 18 nephews and nieces and other relatives.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date, to be announced.

Donations in his memory can be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, or at cancer.org.