Donald Lewis Swendsen 86   Westbrook - Arise, Donald Lewis Swendsen and go forth from the home in which thou hast dwelt, from the city in which thou hast done thy business, from thy family, from thy friends. Arise, and take thy last journey. The hour is coming when that message will come to each of us, but for Donald it came on January 11th. To paraphrase the words of C.H. Spurgeon, but we know enough of the heavenly land to make Donald welcome his summons thither with joy and gladness. The journey of death may be dark, but we may go forth on it fearlessly, knowing that God is with us as we walk through the gloomy valley, and therefore we need fear no evil. Donald has departed from all he has known and loved here, and has gone to our Father's house-to our Father's home, where Jesus is-to that royal "city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." This shall be his last removal, to dwell forever with Him who he loves, in the midst of His people, in the presence of God. Donald is now where he has longed to be. Born on September 7, 1929 to Fred and Effie Swendsen in Westbrook where he attended school and resided his entire life with the exception of 5 plus years of service in the US Army. Donald enjoyed sixty wonderful years as a husband to the late Muriel A. Swendsen and was a father, grandfather and great grandfather. Donald spent 37 ½ years as a fireman for the Westbrook Fire Department retiring in 1995. He also was a member of and regular attendant of the Spring Hill Gospel Hall for his entire adult life. Donald is survived by two daughters, Ruth Reny and her husband Bruce of Westbrook, Me; Sharon Bernier and husband Dick of Standish, Me; and a son, Stephen Swendsen and his wife, Cyndi of Gorham, Me; along with four grandchildren, six great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be on Saturday, January 16th at 1 p.m. with a celebration of Donald's life following at 2 p.m.at the Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church Street, Westbrook, Me. A burial with family will take place at Woodland Cemetery in Westbrook, Me on Tuesday, January 19 at 1:00 PM.  Online condolences can be expressed at blaisandhayfuneralhome.com                                         In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: The Josephine & John Marr Alzheimers Research Fund at Boston Brigham and Women's Hospital. Checks should be made payable to Brigham and Women's Hospital and sent to: Brigham and Women's Hospital Development Office 116 Huntington Ave., 3rd floor Boston, MA 02116