Vigil held for Topeka bar owner killed in motorcycle crash

A search for a missing Topeka man turned tragic when he and his passenger were found dead at the scene of a northwest Topeka motorcycle wreck.

Kenny Barsch, 59, and his passenger Kimberly Ann Hollis, 49, were found dead along Highway 75.

"It wasn't like Kenny to just disappear,” Gary West, lead guitarist of the band Steel Rizing, said. “So you always hope for the best outcome. Unfortunately, that's not what happened."

According to a flyer put out by Kansas Missing and Unsolved, Barsch was last seen leaving a Topeka bar on his motorcycle at 1 a.m. Wednesday.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says it's believed he crashed the motorcycle a half hour later.

People with the search found the wreckage just after 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Barsch was the co-owner of KnJ’s Sports Bar — a popular spot in the Oakland neighborhood. Those who knew him are remembering the legacy he left.

"Friendly, a free spirit, really fun-loving, and a good friend to many people," Mike Blomberg, an employee of the bar, said of Barsch.

"Kenny was a really nice, really warm person, very caring, always wanted to make sure that the bands were comfortable,” West, whose band has performed at KnJ’s a number of times, said. “Did a lot of charities, pool tournaments, bike rides, stuff like that. Just a great guy. Really supported the live music scene in Topeka."

Steel Rizing was set to perform at the bar Friday night. Even after tragedy, the KNJ community decided the show must go on.

"With everything they're going through, to go ahead and do this show, it's really a tribute to Kenny,” West said.

Steel Rizing will start the show at 7 p.m. Friday, followed by a candlelight vigil just after 9:20 p.m.

All are welcome to attend.