Dr. Ivan 'Doc' Roger Edwards

A memorial service will be held at a later date for Dr. Ivan 'Doc' Roger Edwards, 81, who died Nov. 25, 2010, at Carson Tahoe Continued care facility with family at his side.

Born Sept. 1, 1929, in the Black Hills in Belle Fourche, S.D., he was raised in Vale, S.D., where he graduated high school.

He moved to San Bernardino, Calif., to attend junior college preparing to pursue his desire of becoming a veterinarian. After junior college he attended Colorado State University graduating in 1955 with a doctor of veterinary medicine degree.

After college he enlisted in the Army and served overseas for four years, where he met his future wife Ingeborg Thumann. Some years later they reunited in the United States and were married at Lake Tahoe.

Dr. Edwards practiced at different veterinary hospitals until he opened his own practice in Lake Tahoe. He was a board member and volunteer of the Lake Tahoe Humane Society.

In 1993, Dr. Edwards retired from his practice and moved to Topaz Ranch Estates, where he and his wife continued adopting pets and taking in stray animals, assisting people in need, and supporting humane causes.

Dr. Edwards was a member of the Masonic Lodge for more than 55 years, an active member of Rotary and active in his veterinarian college alumni group.

He was preceded in death by his wife of more than 40 years in October 2000.

He is survived by friend Sharon Sawyer; sister Betty Geierman; son Eric; grandniece and grandnephew Joelle and Neal Snook; great-grandnieces Jennifer and Brittani; great-grandnephew Michael, and numerous other relatives. Arrangements in care of FitzHenry's Carson Valley Funeral Home in Gardnerville.