Local artist Earl Senchuk looks over his statue of the late Phil Niemisto before making repairs following its recent vandalism. The statue is located at the Phil Niemisto Pocket Park along Washington Street in downtown Marquette. (Journal photo by Christie Bleck)

MARQUETTE — The statue of the late Phil Niemisto, located in his namesake pocket park along West Washington Street in downtown Marquette, is getting spruced up.

The improvements, however, were born out of necessity following vandalism that took place earlier this year when the statue’s hat and scarf were stolen.

Alex David Wiitanen, of Marquette, pleaded guilty earlier this month to malicious destruction of a memorial or tomb in connection with that vandalism.

Wiitanen was arrested Jan. 25 for his involvement in the incident, which occurred on the night of Jan. 19 or the early morning hours of Jan. 20.

The act upset many people in the community considering it involved the likeness of a beloved icon.

Niemisto was a familiar sight in the downtown area, washing windows and tending to the pocket park garden.

Before his death in February at age 88, Niemisto was honored in October when his statue was unveiled to the public. Almost $14,000 was raised from the community to have local artist Earl Senchuk create the statue.

Senchuk sculpted the statue using a combination of concrete and steel. Niemisto’s face and hands were modeled from a direct molding and cast in Permastone, which is break-resistant and water-resistant.

Fortunately, the January vandalism didn’t result in the actual statue being damaged, Senchuk said.

However, he plans to make a few adjustments.

On Wednesday, Senchuk removed the statue’s head, which he will put back on but at a slightly lower angle.

“It’s sitting a little bit too high,” Senchuk said.

He also planned to clean up certain areas of the statue, noting the nose is a “little bumpy,” and cut the statue’s neck about a quarter of an inch.

“That’s pretty much all I have to do,” said Senchuk, who expected to finish the work today. The hat will go back on the statue, but he plans to put on the scarf next winter.

Senchuk will make the repairs for free.

He did have a few words of caution to anyone considering damaging the statue.

“There’s videocameras everywhere nowadays,” he said.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250.