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Honey Roast ed Turkey B reast . $3.99 Roast Beef .. /lb. .................... $ .. .. ..... 5.25/l Labanon Bo b. logna (Sweet & $ R eg u la r) Sharp Americ 4.99/lb. with Black P an Cheese epper ............ ......... $3.79 Chicken Sa /lb. lad ............ ......... $4.50 /lb.
Joe DeRozier creates more than donuts at bakery
Prices Good Dec. 3rd - Dec. 16th
By Michelle Boswell mboswell@thepaperofmiami.com
There is more to Joe DeRozier than meets the eye. To many, he is the guy who makes the donuts at DeRozier’s bakery. The guy who writes silly and heart-tugging stories on his Facebook page. The guy who declared he was running for President of the United States in 2020 and has tshirts available to prove it. Making donuts takes up much of his time but because he can practically be on autopilot while making them gives him time to think about many things. His life. His kids. His wife. His friends. His parents. What does it all mean? Why are we here? What did he eat for lunch yesterday and why do they call it chicken salad when there isn’t any lettuce in it? Well, I made up the last part, but, to Joe, those are the kinds of things he ponders while creating delicious delights that make
folks flock to his bakery. Over the years, DeRozier has been writing down things that come to mind. He has been told many times he should write a book. So, he did. “Heck, I Don’t Know…I Just Make Donuts” is now available for all to read. I asked him why he decided to write this book. “The book…the stories…the experiences…the imagination…are all who I am. No one really knows me. Through my stories, I think people can see the real me. How I look at things. How I feel. So, imagine my great granddaughter one day asking her grandma (one of my kids) what THEIR daddy was like. They can give her my book and through 200 pages, they can get a glimpse of many of my sides…and hopefully be proud of me and maybe also be proud they are related to me,” DeRozier said.
I sat down one evening and read it completely through. I laughed. Cried. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. It does give you a glimpse into the mind and life of DeRozier. His past, present and the experiences that have made him who he is today. I was still thinking about the book the next day. The chance he took coming to Peru to run his business. How it would’ve been difficult to take over a successful, established bakery (formerly owned by Jim and Sherilyn Busta of Busta’s Bakery), maintain the quality the community had come to enjoy yet blaze his own trail. While reading about his journeys delivering donuts and how tired he would become while driving, I found myself opening my eyes wider to help him stay awake. I will not give away all the stories he tells because it is something you need
to read for yourself. With the holiday season upon us, this would make a great gift for a friend, family member or maybe a shut-in who would enjoy reading about a guy from Wisconsin who has now become one of Miami County’s own. Maybe a DeRozier’s donut or two to go along with the book would be a nice touch, too. If you are interested in purchasing DeRozier’s book, he has provided a link: https://www.derozi ers.com/bookorder-form. You can also find them on Kindle/Amazon and Kobo. The Kobo link is: https://www.kobo.c om/us/en/ebook/h eck-i-don-t-know-ijust-make-donuts. I asked DeRozier if he plans to write more books. He said, “Yes, I already have enough for almost two more. That’s kinda like a warning…lol,” he said. DeRozier asks
those who read his book to leave a review about it. I would highly recommend purchasing this book.
It was a wonderful peek into the life of someone we all know of, but maybe do not know as well as we would like to.
P.S. - Joe, I am quite sure your great granddaughter is going to think you were the bee’s knees!
Tom Lennon retires from Grissom Air Reserve Base, Page 2. Police reports, Page 7. Kim Cox continues tradition of Miami Indian education at Blair Pointe, Page 8.
December 2, 2020
Proudly Serving Miami County
Vol. 1, No. 43