Ivka Schwarz, 72, passed away Jan. 7 in Lake Havasu City. She was born on Oct. 31, 1937, in Veliki, Krdjovac, Yugoslavia, to Peppi and Katarina (Schmidt) Weiss.

Ivka and her husband, Adalbert, migrated to the United States in 1952 from Austria after being forcibly removed from Yugoslavia after World War II. They were married Nov. 3, 1957, and made their home in La Crescenta, Calif., where they raised their three children. Ivka was a stay-at-home mom until she started working at a local delicatessen. In 1975, they both decided to quit their jobs to buy a small family restaurant called The Valley Hofbrau, in Van Nuys. They owned and operated the restaurant until August 1985. After several years of retirement, they decided to move to Lake Havasu City to be near their daughter and her family.

Ivka is survived by her husband of 52 years, Adalbert; two sons, Werner (Allana), of Canyon Country, Calif., and Erwin (Toni), of La Canada, Calif.; and one daughter, Marlene (Ross) Hobday, of Lake Havasu City. She also has nine grandchildren that she cherished dearly, Nikolai, Brett, Katy Sue, Erin and Sara Schwarz, in California, and Craig, Richard, Geoffrey and Dayna Hobday, of Lake Havasu City.

Ivka is a 25-plus years cancer survivor! In 1984, she was diagnosed with stage four melanoma and given a one-in-four chance of living the next two to six years. Boy, did she prove them wrong! Although she was unable to combat Alzheimer’s disease, physically she was cured and living proof of alternative treatments and medicines. Her family is very proud of her strong will, her courage, her fight for survival, her unwillingness to accept traditional treatments and are extremely grateful for the extra 25 years they got to have with her.

The family would also like to express their gratitude to her second home, Lake Hills Inn, here in Lake Havasu City. Ivka lived there for almost five years. Though it was very difficult for us in the beginning to accept her need to be there and making the decision to admit her, we couldn’t have asked for a better place for our “Ommi” to live her last years. Not only did they welcome her, they truly cared and took excellent care of her. They treated her and us like family. We are forever grateful.

Donations made to your favorite charity in her name will be appreciated.

Condolences and thoughts can be made to her family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.